Developers and investors are lining up to get involved in the multimillion opportunities in the new Rotherham town centre masterplan where the focus is on implementation and being ambitious but realistic.
Launched this week, the masterplan has been developed by consultants at WYG working with the local Council and stakeholders. Rothbiz reported in April on how the idea is for it, and the town, to be commercially focused and pragmatic, but bold at the same time.
Catalyst projects include the proposed £43m leisure hub on Forge Island and further residential developments to boost the vitality of the town. The plans also show the potential for a new theatre and arts centre (cgi below) on the former Law Courts site nearby and feasibility studies will be carried out on the prospects.
Unlike the 25 year vision of previous plans under the Rotherham Renaissance banner, the new plans are aimed at giving the town an immediate boost.
WYG's project director Andrew Clarke, who originates from Rotherham, said: "The plan is about picking up the momentum. Rotherham needs this plan and the projects now, not in five or ten years time.
"With a focus on deliverability, the difference here is that we have got a Council being pro-active and acquiring key sites as the plan is finalised. In some cases the answers are already there. We have a number of high profile regeneration projects like the higher education campus and redevelopment of the Interchange where the money is already in place and work is due to start in the Summer."
Advertisement The masterplan is set to be an important tool in marketing the wider town centre to potential investors and encouraging further regeneration and improvements. Those behind the plan admitted that they had been surprised by the level of investor appetite, even before its publication, and expect it to create "the right time" for projects like the redevelopment of the Guest & Chrimes site by the football club to be rekindled.
It is hoped that a "new and exciting" destination leisure offering could be created on the foundry site, with potential for very significant numbers of visitors each year.
Damien Wilson, strategic director of regeneration and environment at Rotherham Council, said: "We have had at least 12 investors and developers knocking on our door, wanting to see the plans and the briefs. Local and national developers and institutional investors."
Soft-market testing has been underway alongside property firm, LSH and a brief was taken to MIPIM, the global property event. With Forge Island, which is set to remain as a car park whilst plans are finalised, a more detailed brief is set to go out in September.
Cllr. Denise Lelliott, cabinet member for jobs and the local economy at Rotherham Council, said: "It is hard not to get carried away a little bit because there are so many projects, with some happening right now. It is an exciting time for the town centre which we know is important to people.
"I like the idea for the Markets Complex - opening the side facing Drummond Street. The markets kept Rotherham alive over the past few years so we are keen to support existing traders and businesses, here and across town."
Details and further images on some of the projects can be seen here.
People can also view the plans and speak to consultants at the Masterplan exhibition which will take place in All Saints' Square (in the old Thornton's unit) on Wednesday June 28 from 11am until 7pm. There will also be a display of the concept drawings for people to view in the Riverside library gallery in the town centre up to the 6th July.
Mattressman, the UK's biggest online mattress specialist, has expanded its store network with a new store in Rotherham.
The Norfolk-based retailer has taken a 4,927 sq ft at the Foundry Retail Park in Parkgate, the first major deal announced since the retail park was sold in multimillion pound deal earlier this year.
Formerly known as the Great Eastern Retail Park at Parkgate, the 170,748 sq ft retail development with 813 car parking spaces, is home to The Range, Harveys, DFS, Wren Kitchens and B&M.
The site was bought in 2012 by a specialist joint venture partnership of Brockton Capital and Pradera in a deal worth around £22.1m. Earlier this year it was acquired as part of a £245m portfolio of nine well-located retail parks across the UK on behalf of Curzon Capital Partners IV (CCP 4), a "core-plus" style investment fund.
Advertisement Launching in 2004, Mattressman was established as a predominantly online retailer, selling hundreds of mattress models from top manufacturers like Silentnight, Hypnos and Sealy. In 2015 the fast growing company appointed property firm Savills to advise on new acquisitions across the UK. The Rotherham store is the company's 21st location.
The brand has agreed a new ten-year lease on the property. The landlord, Rotherham Foundry RP Limited, is managed by Savills Investment Management and was represented by Morgan Williams and Zeitlyn Farrell.
Charlie Greenhalgh, out of town retail director at Savills, said: "Mattressman has undergone exceptional growth over the last couple of years and is an excellent example of a retailer successfully operating across the online and physical worlds. We are pleased to be supporting its ongoing expansion with this new store in Rotherham and look forward to announcing further acquisitions in the near future."
AHF Furniture is also set to open on the site later this year. The UK's largest employee furniture co-op was previously part of the Anglia Co-op. It specialises in the retail of quality home furnishings at affordable prices.
United Carpets, the second largest chain of specialist retail carpet and floor covering stores in the UK, moved into the large vacant unit 5 on the park. Plans have since been approved for the Rotherham-based retailer to move into a large unit at the nearby Tradeworld development.
Rotherham-based Crawshaw Group PLC, the fresh meat and food to go retailer, said that it was making good progress following the transformational deal with the 2 Sisters Food Group.
The AIM-listed Hellaby firm announced growth plans in 2015 that included £200m of investment, opening 200 stores and creating 2,500 jobs. It secured new investment in April this year that is expected to enable Crawshaw to restart its accelerated new store opening programme, with an initial focus on factory shop locations.
In April, heads of terms were agreed on a deal for 2 Sisters Food Group founder and chief executive, Ranjit Boparan (and connected party), to invest approximately £5.1m for a 29.9% stake in Crawshaw, with warrants to acquire a further 20.1% of the Group.
The deal, which saw Boparan become an advisor to the Crawshaw Board, also includes an initial three-year supply agreement for Crawshaw to acquire fresh meat and other products from 2 Sisters, one of Europe's largest meat and food producers.
At this afternoon's AGM of Crawshaw Group Plc, Noel Collett, will give a trading and strategic update for the 20 weeks trading to June 18 2017 in the current financial year.
Advertisement Following the 2 Sisters deal, Crawshaw said it was "making good progress on the transitional plans and operational synergies that will deliver the expected customer and financial benefits."
Group sales were up 5.1% for the first 20 weeks of the financial year with like-for-like sales down 4.5% for the same period. The trading performance of the business continues to be stable following the improvement in like-for-like sales from the initiatives introduced throughout the estate.
Three factory shops have recently opened and plans are in place to open a further four new shops of this type in the balance of the current financial year from a strong pipeline of potential sites.
Noel Collett, chief executive officer at Crawshaw, said: "We are pleased with the progress we've made and the continued level of stability achieved in the core business against the current backdrop of industry-wide cost pressures and a challenging consumer environment.
"Our new fresh meat factory shops continue to perform well and we are further encouraged by our most recent opening at Crystal Peaks, Sheffield. Our strategic focus for the rest of this year will be to open four more fresh meat factory shops and to ensure that we are maximising the customer and financial benefits of the new supply partnership across the estate."
Operating from 49 stores, turnover for the full year ended January 29 2017 was up 19% at Crawshaw to £44.2m from the £37.1m reported in the previous year. Investing in expansion plans, the group made a loss before tax of £1.4m, an increase on the loss of £0.3m in the previous year.
The group is expecting its cost management measures and margin additive initiatives, together with the expected cost reduction in business rates, to offset a challenging UK consumer outlook.
Grimm & Co, the innovative literacy charity that brings a truly unique retail offering to the Rotherham's High Street, has secured funding for the next four years.
Opening in a former pub last year, the Apothecary to the Magical sells wild schemes, evil plots, charms, curses and kitchenware. It was recently voted "No. 159 best shop for all things wicked" by Witch? magazine.
Above the shop, the Yorkshire charity runs innovative storytelling and writing workshops for children in the local area, to unleash their imaginations and build confidence, self-respect and communication skills.
This week, Arts Council England, the national body that invests public money from Government and the National Lottery, announced that Grimm & Co. had been added to its National Portfolio.
The National Portfolio includes organisations across England of all sizes and scales, with museums and libraries coming into the portfolio for the first time. A total budget of £409m will be invested in 831 organisations per year between 2018 and 2022.
Joining the portfolio for the first time, Grimm & Co has been awarded a total of £460,000.
Advertisement The charity has worked with over 40 schools, delivering writing workshops to over 2,500 children aged 7 – 18 which is designed to improve confidence, self-esteem and resilience in children, alongside raising the literacy levels in the area.
These unique workshops are free for children so the charity, which relies on volunteers, must continually work to raise funds. The apothecary shop supports the charity, with all proceeds from the shop going towards the running of the workshops.
The story behind Grimm & Co (Graham Grimm was a Yorkshire businessman, born 1148, just before lunchtime, who spotted a gap in the market), was written by Jeremy Dyson, a non-acting member of the League of Gentleman and co-writer of the West End play, Ghost Stories.
The latest fundraising donations are going towards a new project set up by the charity, the "Children's Republic of Rotherham."
Louise Treloar, fundraising coordinator and "Shop Elf" at Grimm & Co, said: "It's a literacy project, but it has some wider benefits both to the children and to Rotherham. We will recruit around 30 children/young people and work on their confidence, self-esteem, writing skills, imagination and much more."
Rotherham Open Arts Renaissance (ROAR), which supports emerging and professional artists and also has premises in the town centre, has retained its place on the National Portfolio and has been awarded a total of £281,756 over the next four years.
Sir Nicholas Serota, Chair Arts Council England, said: "Alongside continuing support for our great national companies, we've funded inventive, pioneering arts organisations and a new range of museums across the country. We’ve also included libraries producing high quality cultural programmes. Working together these organisations will inspire a broader range of young people and audiences across England than ever before."
A planned redevelopment of the empty former B&Q warehouse in Rotherham can go ahead after change of use plans were approved.
The 51,000 sq ft mini-warehouse is part of the £6m Northfields Retail Park developed by Henry Boot on brownfield land close to the established Parkgate Shopping retail park.
Having only opened in 2009 after relocating from nearby Thornhill, B&Q closed in June 2016 under plans by the owner, Kingfisher plc to "transform its offer" to customers. The store at Cortonwood in Rotherham remains open.
With agents, Surplus Property Solutions, brought in to extinguish the B&Q leases as quickly and efficiently as possible, one route to help find new tenants is to subdivide the unit and open up the potential uses that were restricted by the initial outline planning applications.
Rothbiz reported in December, that British retailing group, Sports Direct was eyeing up the site for a number of its subsidiaries - a sports store, a unit for high end fashion subsidiary, Flannels, and two speculative units with mezzanine floors.
The company's own health and fitness club business could also move to the site in a unit created by enclosing the sides of the former covered garden centre.
Advertisement Plans have now been approved by Rotherham Council that amend conditions which control how the unit is occupied and the range of goods which can be sold from the premises, despite objections.
The Council's own consultants at GVA raised issues that the ability to sell a range of goods other than DIY was "likely to pose a threat to the health of, and existing investment within, Rotherham town centre, not least due to poor state of health."
Dransfield Properties Ltd, the developer behind the Fox Valley retail development and the joint venture for a proposed £50m scheme at Waverley in Rotherham, also raised objections based on the impact on the town centre and secondary centres like Waverley that it anticipates from a proposal that "would serve to expand yet further the already dominant out of centre offer in this part of Rotherham."
Following discussions, Savills, the agents for the applicants, has made amendments to the wording of the application. It will now only enable the sale of bicycles and cycling accessories; caravans; camping and boating equipment, which were initially excluded in the 2007 plans. The primary sale of pets and pet supplies will now be permitted but from a maximum of one unit.
The approvals would seem to put pay to Sports Direct taking the units as the sale of sports equipment, clothing and footwear, would still not be permitted.
A requirement for a DIY / hardware operator to take a significant part of the unit is also being removed.
Matthew Morris, director at GVA, told the Council: "In our opinion, whilst both changes allow for a material change in the way in which the former B&Q store can be re-occupied, including the ability to provide several separate units and increase the range of goods, the range of additional goods is now reasonably limited that it will not materially increase the level of trading overlap with Rotherham town centre's comparison goods sector.
"Therefore, we have now reached the conclusion that subject to the latest condition (including some minor amendments and other controls over the retail floorspace) that the proposed development is not likely to have a significant adverse impact upon the health of, and existing investment within, Rotherham town centre. However, it will add to the weight of cumulative impact on Rotherham town centre and this will need to be taken into account when the Council considers other planning applications for retail and leisure development in the future."
Plans have also been approved for a speculative commercial development on the same site. Local developer, E V Waddington Ltd wants to build 57,000 sq ft of industrial space - two single storey, light industrial/warehouse buildings that could be subdivided into ten units, ranging in size from 4,800 to 9,000 sq ft.
Special autism-friendly sessions have been among the highlights of a Rotherham hair salon's successful first year trading.
Twisted Scissors opened in March 2016 in Rotherham town centre and has gone from strength to strength since.
Not only have the salon's stylists reached the finals of a major competition, but the decision to hold autism-friendly "quiet sessions" has proved extremely popular.
Advertisement Owner Georgia Bell said she was delighted with her decision to take on a vacant unit on Rotherham's High Street. "It has been an amazing first year for us and I'm delighted with how well the business has done," said Georgia.
"We've had brilliant feedback after introducing the autism-friendly quiet sessions and we also styled the cast of the play "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" in Sheffield recently and were asked to return for another play in July.
"We've achieved so much in our first year and we're looking forward to growing the business even more," she added.
Cllr. Denise Lelliott, cabinet member for Jobs and the Local Economy, said: "I'm really pleased to see one of our town centre businesses doing so well and with their innovative ideas I'm sure they will go from strength to strength."
Controversial new parking restrictions at the Tesco Extra store in Rotherham town centre have come into force.
Tesco is now providing three hours free parking at the Drummond Street store but with the condition that shoppers wanting to park for over 30 minutes will have to spend £5 in the store and register their vehicle.
The new "ParkShopReg" system has been implemented which involves parking being validated on the day of visiting the store. This can be done at store using the machines provided or by using a mobile phone app. A free parking voucher is printed for customers in store which includes a barcode and voucher code. Drivers will have up until midnight on the day to validate using the app.
Operated by a private firm, Horizon Parking, those who don't validate their parking or stay longer than three hours will be issued a penalty charge notice of £70, reduced to £40 if paid in 14 days. An Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) parking control system is in place.
An approved parking plan to offer two hours free parking when the store was approved in 2014 was "to limit the availability of free parking and to encourage the use of sustainable transport" and not related to offering users the opportunity to make linked trips into the town centre. It was not to provide a car park so users can just visit the town centre, but for a car park for the store.
The initial condition was a imposed as a limitation rather than a requirement but the planned changes drew objections from the Council's regeneration arm, RiDO, which is responsible for the town centre and the nearby markets, who warned that new proposed parking restrictions will have a negative effect.
Tesco stated that the car park was coming under considerable pressure and is being used by non-Tesco customers. Planning consultants for the retailer added that "the revised controls will ensure that there is a greater turnover of parking to create more freely available spaces for shoppers to visit both the store and shops located in the town centre."
Across town on Forge Island, landowners, Rotherham Council, has cleared the former Tesco store and is to extend the temporary car park from 309 spaces to over 500 spaces. Parking in the "red zone" is free for two hours in the week with all spaces free to use on Saturdays and Sundays.
The new owner of Rotherham-based manufacturer and installer, Yorkshire Windows, is looking for new expert installers to meet demand as sales increase.
Since setting up a new company and taking on the well known name, former commercial director Ian Chester has moved premises from Hellaby to Templeborough, and is returning the focus of the business back to the retail sector.
And the firm, which also has a showroom at Ferndale Garden Centre in Dronfield on the outskirts of Sheffield, has seen bookings double throughout May and June.
A pitch at the recent Great Yorkshire Show brought in further sales enquiries and similar pitches are planned for the Bakewell Show, Penistone Show and Rotherham Show. The spike in sales is expected to continue into the autumn.
Advertisement Ian Chester, managing director at Yorkshire Windows, said: "We are delighted to have enjoyed such a positive spring and early summer sales period but to ensure that all orders are delivered and installed promptly and to our usual high standard we are looking to expand our installations team as quickly as possible.
"We are aiming to recruit additional installation teams who will work on a sub-contract basis installing windows, doors and roofline products for us.
"Both teams will need to be fully qualified and experienced and able to meet the demands of the Yorkshire Windows reputation for quality of service."
Earlier this year, Sheffield insolvency practice Graywoods, was brought in to liquidate the YWC Group which was hit by significantly reduced margins and late payments in the commercial sector.
A new retail unit could replace the former Cranworth Hotel in Eastwood, Rotherham after plans were submitted that would enable the pub to be demolished.
Last year, plans were submitted that would have seen the building converted into a retail outlet by One Stop Stores Limited - the convenience store business that is a subsidiary of Tesco.
Now plans have been submitted with a brief to demolish the existing public house building and erect a new retail unit for a butcher's business that has been trading for many years - the Bismillah Food Store.
The Punch Taverns property had previously been advertised for sale by Barnsdales and detailed plans were first submitted in 2014 as the Eastwood pub was under the threat of closure.
Advertisement The plans involved detailed alterations and attracted opposition and a petition of over 1,000 names objecting to the plans as they believed that they would lead to a change of use of the public house to a convenience store.
The plans were refused but the appeal was allowed and planning permission for the alterations was granted. The pub closed in 2015.
The latest application, drawn up by local architect Mark Smith, explains: "At present the client's existing premises are too small and within a row of terraced properties on Grosvenor Road and have become unsuitable. The new premises will generate further employment and an estimate of 12 full time vacancies are to be created.
"The philosophy of our client is to develop a community presence for the retail unit and encouraging the local community. This includes using local suppliers wherever possible and local staff."
The two storey building would have a floor area of 7,700 sq ft and include a sales and preparation area on the ground floor with storage and staff areas above. Seven parking spaces are proposed.
Research by The Rotherham Civic Society shows that The Cranworth Hotel was opened on Fitzwilliam Road in September 1934 and the first landlord was William Humphries.
A proposed new order, enforced by on-the-spot fines, is set to address the concerns of businesses about the perceived level of anti-social behaviour (ASB) in Rotherham town centre.
Consultation is underway around a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) for Rotherham town centre and Clifton Park after the Council said that it continues to receive complaints about a minority of people who behave in an unacceptable way. 2016 saw 824 recorded incidences of ASB in the town centre area.
A PSPO introduces a number of prohibitions to address the anti-social behaviour of individuals visiting these areas. By outlining these prohibitions it makes it clear what kind of behaviour is acceptable in the town centre.
Conditions have been drafted in direct response to the concerns raised by the public, partners, businesses and councillors. They include: behaving in such a way or using language that causes, or is likely to cause, harassment, alarm or distress to another person; drinking alcohol other than in a licensed premises or event; spitting and using or carrying illegal drugs.
Any individual in breach of the PSPO would be subject to a £100 penalty. Those that failed to pay this would be liable for prosecution.
If authorised, the order would commence in Autumn 2017 and is initially set to run for three years.
Advertisement A report to the Council states: "Concerns have been raised from town centre businesses; the public; ward members; partners; public forums; the Town Centre Partnership Group and others regarding antisocial behaviour (ASB) in Rotherham Town Centre. The identified issues relate to persistent street drinking; littering; dogs running free (unleashed); people sleeping rough; rowdy and inconsiderate behaviour and drug related issues.
"While the town centre does have a small residential population, ASB in this location generally has an overarching impact on local businesses by reducing the visiting number of shoppers. This in turn makes the town centre less appealing to new business ventures, commercial growth, the creation of new jobs, prosperity and general appearance of the main commercial centre.
"Whilst ASB is subjective in that it affects different people in different ways, consideration has to be given by the Council to those that are most threatened by it. The proposed PSPO advocates for those individuals by clearly defining what behaviour the Council is willing to accept and what it is not; and to put in place the appropriate enforcement resources with its partners to supervise the Order."
Rotherham Council has recently started working in partnership with private sector contractors, Kingdom who have two officers deployed to enforce against littering in the town centre using the Environmental Protection Act (EPA).
As the table above shows, Rotherham town centre has experienced lower levels of crime and ASB than other nearby towns and cities but Alan Heppenstall of the Council's Community Safety Unit, explains: "Very often the climate of an area cannot be measured using quantitative statistical data alone, but is reliant on the anecdotal qualitative experience of stakeholders. Therefore, the evidence used to shape the prohibitions of a given PSPO can be used both to address actual ASB incidents as well as those aspects that are difficult to measure; relating more to the way the town centre feels and is perceived by those visiting it."
Consultation on the proposed PSPO runs until August 16 2017.
Rotherham-based United Carpets Group plc, the third largest chain of specialist retail carpet and floor covering stores in the UK, has posted what it describes as a "creditable result against a backdrop of increasing economic uncertainty."
The Bramley-based, AIM-listed company has restructured in recent years following a pre-pack administration deal in 2012.
The group uses a franchise model and reported that revenue was £21.2m for its financial year ended March 31 2017, slightly down from the £21.4m in the previous year. Profit before tax was £1.5m, similar to the £1.49m reported a year previous.
During the period, two franchised stores and two corporate stores were closed and two franchised stores and a corporate store were re-located within the same town. As a result, at the end of the financial year, the group had 57 stores of which 50 were franchised and seven were corporate.
The closures are part of a focus on stores which meet or exceed performance criteria and the plc has not ruled out opening more stores "where it can establish a profitable long-term presence."
Like for like sales across the whole of the network (based on stores that have traded throughout both the period under review and the corresponding period in the prior year and thus excluding stores that closed during either period) were up 1.3%. United Carpets said that this "was a pleasing result against strong comparatives in the prior year and during what is considered to be a tough trading environment."
Advertisement Paul Eyre, chief executive at United Carpets, said: "These results show a modest improvement on the prior year together with a positive like for like performance up 1.3%. This is a creditable result against a backdrop of increasing economic uncertainty which has tended to damage consumer confidence. We have been helped by the resilience of our franchise model together with the strength of our core customer offering of providing great quality products at attractive price points."
Peter Cowgill, chairman of United Carpets, said: "Given the wider environment, this has been a good year for United Carpets. Political and economic changes have affected consumer confidence and this has resulted in a more challenging retail environment so a modest improvement in profit before tax represents sound progress.
"It remains difficult to predict the full impact that Brexit and other political developments might have on the UK, however a prolonged period of significant uncertainty has meant that the mood of the UK consumer has fluctuated throughout the past year. It appears probable that this state of flux is unlikely to stabilise in the near term as we go through the Brexit process and therefore we expect the challenging market conditions to remain prevalent over the coming year.
"Despite some recent weakening, the UK housing market continues to function reasonably positively and this alongside the Group's debt free, stable financial base and strong market positioning makes the Group, in the Board's opinion, well positioned going forward."
The Rotherham branch of United Carpets is sponsoring the Wickersley Youth Junior Football team for the upcoming 2017/18 season. Jason Swift, branch manager, said: "We know how important it is to support local teams and encourage youngsters to get out and about and active in this manner. Our sponsorship package includes branded tracksuits and kit bags; all vital equipment for the team so we're delighted to be a part of it.
"Opportunities like this are one of the best parts of working with a locally run business like United Carpets & Beds, we can get involved in activity like this and make a real difference in the community."
Rotherham Council regeneration bosses have pledged to support existing businesses as they wait for the catalyst projects in the new masterplan to revive the town centre.
It comes after the Council's own figures show that footfall has declined over the past year meaning that the authority's target has been missed by 1.8 million, described as "slightly below target."
Rotherham Council's Corporate Plan sets out the priorities for serving local residents and communities. It includes a target based on the aggregate pedestrian footfall in the town centre over the course of the year.
The target was to exceed 23,699,399 but another decline in the last quarter of the year has meant that the total aggregate pedestrian footfall in the town centre for 2016/17 is 21,851,449.
The first quarter of 2016/17 - between April and June 2016 saw an aggregate footfall of 5,641,296. The quarterly figure peaked in the summer months of July and September 2016 with 5,898,148. This declined to 5,492,033 for the Christmas trading period between October and December 2016. The lowest quarterly figure was recorded between January and Mar 2017 - 4,808,955.
A report to the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board of the Council, said: "The actual figures for 2016/17 are slightly below target which reflects the national picture, which has seen a six-month consecutive decline. As the town centre masterplan is nearing completion, it is anticipated the developments will reverse the recent decline in footfall."
Amendments have been made on how the footfall is recorded, given the change in how the town centre is used following Tesco's move across town at the end of 2014. Cameras that record the figures have been moved so that data collected from now on will be more consistent.
Advertisement A number of retailers have recently vacated units in Rotherham town centre including New Look and Thorntons. Primark is moving from the High Street into 33,100 sq ft of retail space at nearby Parkgate Shopping.
The report added: "The recently announced move of Primark to Parkgate will have an impact on footfall on High Street and the wider town centre. The closure is scheduled for the last quarter of 2017 and Council officers are seeking a meeting with Primark to discuss plans for the store, which is owned by Primark."
The recently published masterplan places a greater emphasis on town centre living and leisure, as opposed to traditional retail uses, in continuing the regeneration of Rotherham town centre. It is set for approval by the Council's cabinet in September when the authority expects to head to the market for the regeneration of the Forge Island site. The plan here is for a £43m leisure development anchored by a cinema and hotel.
Cllr. Denise Lelliott, Cabinet Member for Jobs and the Local Economy at Rotherham Council, said: "Obviously footfall has been a concern and I hold regular meetings with businesses and I work really, really closely with them.
"We have set up an officer task group to look at some of the issues that have been raised around footfall. Some of the things that have been fed back are around anti-social behaviour, and hopefully we will have a Public Space Protection Order to enforce that, reassuring members of the public that it is safe.
"It is difficult but if you look at Forge Island, the bridge has been opened up and it is starting to look better, but unfortunately it is going to be September when the masterplan goes to Cabinet and after that is getting the delivery partner to come in and do it. But in that time we can assure people that we are working closely to ensure that businesses are supported as best we can."
Damien Wilson, strategic director for Regeneration and Environment at Rotherham Council, added: "The masterplan won't take place overnight. As far as the ongoing support, Cllr. Lelliott has certainly been vocal in leading that with the Business Growth Board and the town centre team to ensure that existing businesses get that ongoing support to prevent any further closures that obviously add to the void levels. Any activities that we can undertake to support existing businesses is ongoing."
Fire officers are repeating calls for businesses to fit sprinklers, after the devices saved a Rotherham supermarket from suffering a serious blaze.
South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue (SYFR) firefighters attended the incident at Asda Rotherham, Aldwarke Lane in July after a fryer caught fire in the cafe.
But the fire was already out when crews from Rotherham and Dearne stations arrived, there was virtually no fire or water damage and the store was quickly reopened - all thanks to sprinklers which had been fitted to suppress the fire.
Amy Jenkinson, business fire safety manager at South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue, said: "The fire suppression systems installed by Asda were sophisticated, worked effectively and completely extinguished the fire. There is no doubt that having sprinkler systems like this in place can save businesses massive amounts of time and money by limiting losses of stock and custom in the event that a fire does occur."
The fire service added that sprinklers are the most effective way of ensuring that fires are suppressed or even extinguished before the fire service can arrive. They save lives and reduce injuries, protect firefighters who attend incidents and reduce the amount of damage to both property and the environment from fire.
Advertisement Currently, only commercial premises greater than 20,000 sq m (215,000 sq ft) must have sprinkler systems installed. SYFR adopted a position statement last year which specifically advocated the use of sprinklers and other fire suppression systems in non-domestic premises and high-risk residential settings.
SYFR offers a number of services aimed at businesses. Part of that includes promoting better understanding of the benefits of sprinklers, encouraging building owners, developers, architects and designers to incorporate sprinkler systems where there is a risk-based case for doing so, particularly where the risks to people are unacceptable high, or where there is a clear business case in terms of cost and benefit.
The position statement added: "Irrespective of size, there is a compelling case to be made for sprinklers in any commercial premises, on the basis of loss of production or interruption to business as a result of fire. Approximately 85% of small and medium businesses suffering a serious fire either never recover or cease trading within 18 months.
"The installation of sprinklers in these types of premises will aid growth in the economy as fewer businesses will cease to trade, losses from fire will reduce and fewer businesses will be forced to relocate. The impact of the loss of trade and jobs to the economy of South Yorkshire can be minimised by the installation of sprinklers."
Rotherham-based retailer, Fishing Republic, has opened its sixth "destination" store since the start of 2017, with more to come.
One of the largest fishing tackle retailers in the UK, the Eastwood company floated on the AIM stock exchange in 2015, raising millions to help carry out its expansion plans. A new share placing during 2016 landed a further £3.75m.
Located in Gloucester, the new store, which opened last week expands Fishing Republic's presence in the West of England. The 6,000 sq ft store follows the company's expansion into East Anglia and Essex, with new store openings in Kings Lynn and Clavering Lakes in recent months. An additional store opening, in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, is planned for the end of August and will increase the store network to 19.
Advertisement Fishing Republic is acting as a consolidator and expansion plans involve snapping up smaller, often family-owned fishing retail businesses. New store openings replicate the "destination" store format, catering for all types of fishing disciplines with an extensive product range, and are located in light-industrial estates with convenient access and good car parking facilities. The new stores will also help drive online sales, as Fishing Republic continues to execute its multi-channel growth model.
The Cambridgeshire store is opening in a former aircraft hangar in Warboys.
Steve Gross, CEO of Fishing Republic, said: "Fishing Republic has significantly expanded its store network over the last few months and I am delighted to announce our latest store opening, in line with our expansion plans for the year. Located in Gloucester, it increases our presence in the West of England. By the end of August, a further store opening in Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire will complement our existing presence in that region and take our expanding network to 19 stores."
Fishing Republic's online sales strategy involves transitioning away from third party platforms to its own website sales, where margins are higher.
When the firm reported on the year ending December 31 2016, it called it "a year of strong progress" where revenue was up by 41% to £5.79m from the £4.12m in 2015. With investment in growth, profit before tax rose to £403,000 from £6,000 in 2015 (which included around £300,000 in costs relating to the IPO). Gross profits were helped by improved purchasing power.
Detailed plans have been submitted to enable American coffee company and coffeehouse chain, Starbucks, to open a new outlet in Rotherham.
With nearly 25,000 retail stores around the world and 900 in the UK, the US coffee chain unveiled plans to open approximately 12,000 new stores globally by 2021. In addition to traditional high street, retail park, kiosk and other concessionary activity in the UK, a growing number are expected to be drive thru operations.
Following outline planning approval in 2015 for a new Rotherham outlet, details have now been submitted showing a 1,959 sq ft building on the existing car park at the Foundry Retail Park at Parkgate.
The drive thru coffee shop unit is expected to create 15 jobs.
Advertisement The plans state: "Due to increased demand, a new A3 pod unit is proposed to the north of the existing car park area adjacent to Great Eastern Way and opposite the main retail terrace, which will attract passing customer interest as well as provide refreshment opportunity for visitors to the retail park.
"The proposed building is of high quality design which will positively contribute to the street scene in this location, close to Great Eastern Way. Agreement has been reached with Starbucks to occupy the unit ..."
The 2015 plans were granted by Rotherham Council subject to conditions.
As the site is not located within a designated town, district or local centre, officers asked that a sequential test assessment be undertaken in line with national and local planning policies. Sequential tests ensure that development is located in the most sustainable location first (usually in town centres), before other, less sustainable locations are chosen.
Council planners agreed with the findings of a study undertaken by the applicants which concluded that there were no sites of a suitable size (0.2 - 0.3 hectares) available for development within Rotherham town centre or the Parkgate local centre. Planners also accepted that there were no more sequentially preferable edge-of-centre sites available between this site and the town centre.
Advertisement The design, which includes glazed frontages, mirrors the more recently constructed unit that is occupied by Sofology.
The applicants, Rotherham Foundry Retail Park Ltd, appear confident of approval given that contractors, JP Wild are already on site where around 43 parking spaces are set to be lost to the new development, which will also include outdoor seating areas.
Starbucks is continually seeking sites for new company, franchised and licensed stores. It has been restructuring in the UK, moving towards more stores operated by licensed partners. Pre-tax profits were £13.4m in the year to October 2 2016, down 60% from the £34.2m reported in 2015. Turnover declined from £405.6m to £379.9m.
The first Starbucks in Rotherham is located within Woodall Serices on the M1. A drive thru unit from rival chain, Costa, recently opened on car parking land at the nearby Parkgate Shopping.
Plans for the long-awaited revamp of a prominent building in Rotherham town centre have been submitted.
Rothbiz reported first in February that the new owners of Westgate Chambers had been discussing plans for the future use of the building to include retail, leisure and residential aspects. The draft plans also included some demolition and the construction of a new block facing Domine Lane.
A decision to sell the Main Street property was made by Rotherham Council back in 2014 and the deal is set to go through when planning permission has been granted.
The plans from Sheffield-based HMP Bespoke Construction Ltd, state: "The development will create an exciting courtyard residential development and vibrant retail, leisure, and hospitality space, in the heart of the conservation area in Rotherham town centre.
"The Westgate Chamber site is in a key location within Rotherham town centre; adjacent to the Westgate and Minster Quarters, and on the route between the proposed Forge Island Leisure Hub, and the town centre. The new development has the potential to be a key component in the rejuvenation of Rotherham, and will bring vibrant retail and leisure space and high quality residential accommodation right in the heart of Rotherham."
Advertisement Acquired by the Council in 2006, the major part of the 0.275ha complex is currently home to bars, nightclubs and takeaways with disused offices on the upper floors converted into artists studios and community arts space in 2011. Many units are vacant and part of the site is Grade 2 listed.
The proposed development has an estimated gross development value of £10.7m and the plans, drawn up by Self Architects, are for two interrelated developments.
For the existing building, the plan is for the addition of new shopfronts, in keeping with the heritage-led development of High Street, with three floors of contemporary apartments above.
A brand new building containing retail space and flats on Domine Lane is set to bring "high quality contemporary architecture, which will lift the street scene and continue the recent contemporary development."
Dilapidated buildings on Domine Lane are set to be demolished with the access to a courtyard moved to adjacent the 1915 Bar. The plans conclude that: "Overall the loss of the buildings on Domine Lane is outweighed by the benefit of providing much needed housing and high quality retail and leisure premises in the area."
The rear of the blocks are set to be developed to create an additional floor behind the existing ridge with a reorganisation of the floor plans to open up the space.
Renovating the current buildings, high quality retail, leisure and hospitality space is set for street level, with 29 well-proportioned, contemporary, one, two and three bedroom apartments, above. The new building will feature a large commercial unit on the ground floor with 32, high quality one, two and three bedroom apartments all with inset balconies, Juliette balconies or roof terraces.
Advertisement Given its proximity to the railway station and interchange, no car parking will be provided on site for the apartments, however 14 parking spaces are proposed for the use of employees of the ancillary retail and leisure uses.
Floor plans show that the basement and ground floor will contain the uses suitable for retail, drinking establishments and the first and second floors for residential.
The Georgian building, known as the Co-op building, was originally a fine residence built in 1794 by the architect John Platt and occupied by him until his death in 1810. It is set to be retained and enhanced. The proposals include reinstating the "handsome" Georgian façade by fitting appropriate 9 and 12-panel windows to the Main Street and Westgate facades, and renewing the shopfronts in a style complimentary to the building.
New stores are getting ready to open for business at a £36m retail development in Rotherham where over 200 jobs have been created.
At Cortonwood Shopping Park, work started last year on a programme to demolish the vacant 150,000 sq ft ALBA warehouse, following which J F Finnegan undertook works to create 11 new retail units and a restaurant totalling 79,750 sq ft.
Getting ready to open are national retailers Outfit, H&M, New Look, River Island, Mountain Warehouse, Marks and Spencer Simply Food, Clark's, JD Sports, Wilkos, Poundland and Frankie & Benny's.
Only passed on appeal, the development is from Helical Retail and forms an extension to Cortonwood Retail Park which was developed by St Paul's Developments, totally transforming the site of the former Cortonwood Colliery, where the 1984 miners' strike began.
Advertisement Helical Bar plc is a property investment and development company and is working with partners, Oswin Developments Limited on the scheme.
Jonathan Cox of Helical Retail said: "This development has come about over a period of time which many retailers have found challenging, underlining the confidence these high profile names have in Cortonwood as a retail destination."
Edgerley Simpson Howe acted for Helical Retail and Aberdeen Asset Management was advised by CWM.
The 9,000 sq ft M&S Foodhall, which has created 57 jobs at the scheme, has set its opening date as August 30.
Helical Retail funded the development to clients of Aberdeen Asset Management for £36.3m, showing the buyer a yield of c.5.5%. Aberdeen Asset Management PLC is a global investment management group, managing assets for institutional and retail clients from offices around the world.
Over 95% of the scheme was pre-let "off plan" and the developers believe that the new retail park will create between 279 and 372 jobs (equivalent to 186 full time jobs).
Helical plc has narrowed the focus of the company to London, offices in Manchester and a portfolio of logistics units. It expects to sell off remaining non-core assets, such as its retail portfolio, this year.
Local businesses have been asking for free parking across Rotherham town centre but those behind the masterplan for the area insist that it is not the key to success.
Instead, the masterplan sets out that the answer is building and enhancing the quality of the destination and the town centre as an attraction, and by creating an intelligent and competitive parking regime.
The recently published masterplan places a greater emphasis on town centre living and leisure, as opposed to traditional retail uses, in continuing the regeneration of Rotherham town centre. It is set for approval by the Council's cabinet in September.
A detailed parking strategy has been prepared to underpin and support the plan which was developed for the Council by WYG Group and Lambert Smith Hampton and includes key catalyst projects such as the proposed £43m leisure development with a cinema, hotel and a 300 space car park on Forge Island (cgi, above).
The masterplan states: "Whilst the sustainable modes of travel are promoted the role of car parking in supporting the success and sustainability of town centre and its businesses is confirmed as vitally important.
"Free parking giving access to a poor town centre is not the key to success. An improved town centre offer, with an intelligent and competitive parking regime is. Parking controls should be geared to encouraging people to use the town centre as conveniently and cost effectively as possible."
Advertisement Parking charges increased in Rotherham town centre in 2016 to help fill a deficit in the Council's parking services budget. Councillors wanted an option to increase charges on the basis of free (off street) parking being provided on Saturdays but this was not acceded to.
The latest plans do put forward some ideas for the Council, but free parking "across the board" is not one of them. In 2015, Council bosses estimated that this would "probably" boost trade but if it was introduced, a £400,000 surplus generated for the Council would turn into a deficit of approximately £500,000.
Ideas include operating a "hub" of public car parks with the same pricing structure, additional time-limited free parking in car parks where there is low occupancy (as used in the "red zone" on Forge Island), and barrier controlled entry and exit car parks so that people are not forced to leave the town when their ticket expires. Pay on exit barrier controlled parking reduces the risk of enforcement and people only pay for what they use.
Another idea is for additional on-street parking in central areas to provide easy access for shoppers and visitors. The balance of pedestrian and vehicular access in areas around Howard Street, Effingham Street and College Street means that areas are cut-off from passing movements of people and motorists, particularly in the evening. Allowing cars on the pedestrianised areas out of shopping-hours and the introduction of 20-30 new spaces is put forward.
The plans state: "Proposals for car parking in the short-term should help to support increased use of the town centre. This will directly to answer retailers' requests for interim measures to support vitality and viability. This could involve the Council taking a flexible approach to their car parks and the charging / ticketing regimes.
"The answer to Rotherham's future is not however free parking. The answer is building and enhancing the quality of the destination and the town centre as an attraction.
"In the longer term, the aim is to ensure safe, welcoming and user friendly town centre car parks and parking options, which are convenient, competitively priced and which encourage use of the town centre through the day and into the evening."
Advertisement The plans also show an oversupply of parking now, and with planned developments. Even as existing surface car parks make way for proposed development this "will in part address the present over supply (and underuse) of many car parks."
The plans add: "To ensure businesses continue to trade well and benefit from adequate car parking in the town centre, we have assessed the implications of blocks of parking being removed from the supply at various times. Our conclusions are that there will always be supply to meet present and future demands and that the interim arrangements will be sufficient to ensure the town centre continues to trade."
Studies show the existing off street parking provision of 2,374 spaces dipping below 2,000 in 2019 before returning to 2,300 as new car parks are created by the end of 2020. Car park maximum occupancy levels are shown as 1,415 in 2017 and 1,727 in the year 2028.
For example: "Whilst there may be some inconvenience with parking at Forge Island being lost whilst development is under construction, parking will be available in the refurbished Interchange."
Australian firm, Bunnings, one of the world's leading retailers of home improvement and outdoor living products, is planning to makeover a large empty unit in order to open a new store in Rotherham.
The 51,000 sq ft retail warehouse at the Northfields Retail Park was formerly occupied by B&Q but has been vacant since June 2016.
Rothbiz reported last month that in order to help find new tenants, planning permission was secured to subdivide the unit and open up the potential uses of the site that were restricted by the initial outline planning applications.
Now it appears that these plans have been shelved and a new bulky goods retailer is set to move in. Plans submitted to Rotherham Council for new signage show that the unit would become a Bunnings Warehouse.
Plans show the retailer will get to work to "completely refurbish the store" and that the plans for the unit "will secure its reuse, new local employment and a new quality home improvement offer for Rotherham."
Advertisement Keen to climb up the ladder in the £38 billion a year UK home improvement and gardening market, the Australian firm acquired the struggling Homebase chain in February 2016 for £340m. The company, part of the AUS$66 billion turnover Wesfarmers Group, announced plans to invest up to £500m rolling out the Bunnings Warehouse format in the UK and Ireland over the next three to five years.
Selling leading brands at warehouse prices, the UK stores sell over 30,000 lines including DeWalt, Ryobi, Irwin Tools and Johnstone's Trade, as well as Purdy and Harris.
The stores, which typically employ between 50 and 90 staff, include team members who are ex-plumbers, electricians, builders, landscape gardeners and painter & decorators, with experts "owning their own aisle."
Currently operating five stores in the UK, in June, Bunnings announced that it would expand its pilot program, and will have 15 to 20 stores by the end of 2017 – up to twice as many as previously expected.
If the deal for the Rotherham property is confirmed it will be the first Bunnings Warehouse in Yorkshire, and indeed, North of Milton Keynes.
Advertisement PJ Davis, managing director of Bunnings UK & Ireland, said: "Our decision to extend the pilot programme reflects the positive reaction we've seen from customers to the stores we've opened so far.
"Increasing the number of pilot stores to 20 will give us the opportunity to test the concept in new geographies, with different demographics, across a range of store sizes.
"We are determined to combine the best of Bunnings Warehouse with what UK consumers want. The success of the pilots still remains a precursor to additional investment."
Having only opened in 2009 after relocating from nearby Thornhill, the B&Q at Northfields closed under plans by the owner, Kingfisher plc to "transform its offer" to customers. The store at Cortonwood in Rotherham remains open. Homebase previously operated at the nearby Parkgate Shopping before closing in 2011.
A Rotherham-based textiles teacher is using her experience from the classroom, and the catwalk, to set up in business selling handcrafted bridal accessories.
Chelsey Peart (née Crossland) studied Fashion Design at University and has built a career for herself as an art and textiles teacher.
The talented 26 year-old from Rawmarsh also produces intricately beaded bridal accessories including garters, head pieces and chokers, all of which are individually made and tailored to the needs of her growing international clientele.
Over the past eight months Chelsey has been working alongside a dedicated business advisor from the Launchpad programme, helping her to develop and refine her business plans as well as spending time developing a digital marketing strategy to drive sales and build her newly developed brand.
Since Chelsey started working with Launchpad, her unique hand-made products have attracted global interest. She has secured orders from brides across the world including America and New Zealand. Her business, Chelsey Crossland Bespoke, has also secured deals with a number of retail outlets across South Yorkshire and she is setting her sights on launching her own boutique in the future.
AdvertisementThe success of Chelsey's bridal range has given her the confidence to add new lines to her first collection and she is currently working on a new diffusion line which includes gothic-inspired alternative pieces. In addition to her custom made bridal accessories, self-confessed magpie Chelsey is drawing inspiration from the roaring twenties, Latin and ballroom costumes and even chandeliers and ornate gilded window frames to add glitz and glamour to her new range, adding occasional dresses, loungewear and beachwear to her luxury lifestyle brand.
Chelsey Peart, founder of Chelsey Crossland Bespoke, which is based in Wentworth, said: "If someone had told me this time last year I would be receiving orders for my designs from the four corners of the world I would have laughed at them, but since I started working with Launchpad, that's exactly what's happened!
"I liked the idea of running a business, but working full-time meant I couldn't always attend the training workshops due to my classroom commitments. I wanted to find a way of sharing my two passions in life, creating beautiful products and inspiring others in the classroom.
"Fashion has always been an important part of my life and began with my love of the eclectic. Seeing my collection on the catwalk at London Fashion Week gave me a much needed confidence boost. It made me realise people liked my work and were genuinely interested in the designs I produced. It planted a seed in my mind and I'd find myself waking up at 3am and reaching for the nearest thing I could find to jot down new design ideas.
"I decided that 2017 was my now or never moment: Until this year I was designing with no real outlet to exhibit my work. Making beautiful things makes me feel excited about life. There have been ups and downs along the way, but the support and recommendations I've received from the Launchpad team has been beyond my wildest dreams. It's not only helped me to develop my business ideas, but encouraged me to believe in myself."
Advertisement Julia Millea, business advisor, SCR Launchpad, added: "Chelsey is an immensely talented designer, but as she was employed full-time she felt unable to develop her business ideas further. From the outset she had a very clear idea as to what she wanted to achieve, but like many people, wasn't sure where to start when it came to running a business.
"It is always rewarding to help individuals who are clearly passionate and dedicated about a subject to see them achieve their goals. Launchpad was set up to help people who are thinking of running a business, enabling them to access the right advice at the right time. We've been working with Chelsey from a very early stage in her business journey, helping her to develop a robust business plan which is already attracting attention from fashion-savvy brides to be from across the world who are looking for something truly special and unique for their big day."
