A proposed £300m leisure hall at Meadowhall that will negatively effect Rotherham town centre is being recommended for approval by planners at Sheffield Council.
Members of the planning board are set to discuss the proposals next week and are being recommended to approve the plans subject to a number of conditions.
The initial plan comprised a 330,000 sq ft multi-level extension housed under a glazed roof on land currently used for car parking. Plans show leisure space to provide a range of other uses to meet the needs of a wide family group, including a new cinema (the existing Vue Cinema will close, and be changed to an alternative leisure use) plus space for food and drink outlets. A new foodstore and added retail units were also planned.
Advertisement Applicants, British Land, insist that the development will not have any unacceptable trading effects on Rotherham town centre or cause any significant adverse impact on planned investment.
The plans were amended with the food store element removed and restrictions to be put in place to limit the new retail space and the conversion of previous leisure space. Significant transport investments are also tied to the scheme gaining planning approval.
Studies show the new development having a potential impact of 0.7% up to £1.2m by 2021 which represents less than 8% of the forecast increase in turnover of Rotherham town centre between 2016 and 2021 (£15.3m). The applicants point out that post development, the retail turnover of the town centre will increase over the next five years. They also say that Meadowhall and Rotherham have a different retail offer with Rotherham's offer focused on the lower end of the retail spectrum and there being little overlap in the clothing and footwear sector.
Advertisement Rotherham planners are also concerned for the proposed £43m leisure development at Forge Island which is to be anchored by a cinema and hotel alongside food and beverage units.
Concerns have been raised that some food and drink operators may prefer Meadowhall over Rotherham and not have the confidence to invest in Forge Island. Rotherham Council, which owns the site believes that a critical mass of food and drink uses is needed in order to ensure the viability of the Forge Island development and unless food and drink operators are attracted, the cinema will not be attracted.
British Land argues that food and drink market at Forge Island will be generated by the other uses on the site and that a cinema will support restaurant uses supplemented by the hotel, adding that neither of which are likely to be undermined by the new leisure hall at Meadowhall. They also argue that the food and drink markets for the two sites will be different. They say the interest in Forge Island is more likely to be the fast/contemporary casual and national brands whilst the leisure hall will be attractive to the more aspirational and varied food offer aligned with Meadowhall customer profile.
Planners at Sheffield Council are in agreement with British Land and also agree that the proposal will "undoubtedly have a negative impact on Rotherham's town centre which is already in a fragile state."
A report to the planning board states: "Given its poor starting position a small impact is likely to be more critical. The poor state of health of the existing centre is a consequence of development already permitted at Meadowhall and Parkgate Retail Park, the effects of which will already have been felt. Given this, the relatively small impact of the proposal, and the different retail offer of the two centres, it is judged that the level of impact on Rotherham town centre is not sufficient to be considered to be significantly adverse which is the planning test for refusing permission."
Historic national retailer, Greenwoods Menswear, has entered administration with 300 jobs and 60 stores at risk - including one in Rotherham town centre.
The move comes after the Chinese owner of the Bradford firm pulled its own stores from the UK market citing concerns over the impact of Brexit.
The retailer has stores nationwide and specialises in men's formalwear and smart casual clothing whilst also developing the 1860 Brand, a hire wear specialist of wedding, evening and Highland wear suits. The company also operates its niche brand "Mansize" which caters for the larger man, whilst still retaining high quality styling and fabrics.
The Rotherham "flagship" store opened on College Street in 2011 in the former Music Zone unit. The move into the store was helped by an £8,000 grant from the Council's Town Centre Business Vitality Grant Scheme.
Last week it was announced that Adrian Berry and Claire Boardman, of Deloitte LLP, were appointed as joint administrators for Greenwoods Menswear Ltd.
Stores were continuing to trade whilst the administrators search for a buyer.
Advertisement The firm has struggled in the challenging retail sector before. In 2009 Greenwoods was bought out of administration by Harvest Fancy Hong Kong Ltd, an arm of Bosideng, one of China's biggest clothing chains. Under subsidiary, Pacific Trend Investment, the business was then acquired by fully by Bosideng in October 2014.
An investment and restructuring plan was underway but it was reported earlier this year that Bosideng, which has around 10,000 stores in China, was pulling out of its flagship London store which was expected to be a launchpad for a move into Europe.
For the financial year to March 31 2016, turnover at Greenwoods was £2m down on the previous year at £22.2m. Pre-tax losses went from £1.7m to £1.4m.
In July, the freehold shop investment at 31 College Street (the Greenwoods store) went under the hammer with national auctioneers, Allsop, and was sold at the guide price of £300,000. The legal pack shows that the 3,800 sq ft property was let to Greenwoods Menswear Limited on a lease expiring in 2021. The current rent was shown as £30,000 per annum and the 2017 break clause was not exercised.
The rateable value of the property was revalued down from £56,500 in 2010 to £44,500 in 2017.
German global discount supermarket chain, Lidl is planning to open a new store in Rotherham as part of significant national expansion plans.
Launching in the UK in September 1994, Lidl has grown consistently, and today has 670 stores - with one on the edge of Rotherham town centre.
Now, consultants for the supermarket, Walshingham Planning, has opened discussions with Rotherham Council over a proposed new store on the site of Dalton Progressive Working Men's Club in Dalton.
The building has been vacated after the club fell into administration and the site of the proposed store includes land to the north and west of the empty building.
Advertisement Details submitted to the Council show that the store would be around 22,000 sq ft, providing 14,000 sq ft of sales floorspace. 80% of which would be used for convenience goods and 20% for seasonal non-food items. A 132 space car park is also being planned.
The new Lidl store would create around 40 jobs.
Laura Beech, a consultant at Walshingham Planning, said in correspondence with Council: "The proposal is to demolish the vacant club building and erect a new A1 foodstore, to be occupied by Lidl and which will function as a new neighbourhood discount foodstore.
"The proposals will secure redevelopment of the site, bringing it back into active economic use and generating employment for the local area. The store will also help claw back trade that currently flows to the out-of-centre superstores, and will provide an accessible and sustainably-located facility."
Applicants will need to prove that retail use is acceptable. The site is currently zoned for business use but is being put forward for residential use in the new local plan which is close to adoption.
Advertisement Documents filed when the club entered administration show that a £410,000 deal was secured in 2016 with a local housebuilder for the land at Doncaster Road. The prospective purchaser later withdrew the offer.
The documents also show that the site went back on the market with a "national retailer" showing interest. Contracts for the land are set to be exchanged once planing permission is secured.
In July, Lidl discussed its aggressive expansion with a plan to roll-out "at least one shop a week" with investment of £1.45bn between now and 2019.
According to analysts, Kantar Worldpanel, Lidl recently pipped Aldi to the title of the UK's fastest growing supermarket for the first time since March, with sales growth of 18.8% just ahead of the latter's 18.7%. Both retailers continue to gain market share – combined, the two have gained 1.4 percentage points since June 2016 and now hold 5.0% and 6.9% respectively.
In Rotherham, Aldi recently opened new stores in Parkgate and Bramley and has updated plans for further new stores in Maltby and at Swallownest.
The cabinet and commissioners at Rotherham Council have approved the adoption of the town centre masterplan - enabling the authority to secure a development partner for the cinema and hotel led proposals for Forge Island.
The 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. Developed for the Council by WYG Group and Lambert Smith Hampton, it includes key catalyst projects such as the proposed £43m leisure development on Forge Island.
Key projects in the plan are detailed here including Guest & Chrimes, along the River Don, The Markets, Transport interchange, Doncaster Gate and Main Street.
Cllr. Denise Lelliott, Cabinet Member for Jobs and the Local Economy at Rotherham Council, said: "The masterplan was required to provide details of projects to revitalise the town but it was clear in our brief that it should be implementation focused. It needed to identify significant deliverable projects and be bold but also be commercial, pragmatic and realistic."
Indicating the focus on implementation, the authority has worked to secure an number of sites in the town - Forge Island, the Law Courts and Riverside Precinct.
Advertisement The approval at this week's meeting has also enabled the Council to take the first project to the market. A two stage process is being carried out to identify a development partner and establish a joint venture.
Developers, investors and operators are showing a keen interest in working up proposals for Forge Island including a five screen cinema, 60-bed hotel, food outlets, bars and cafes (around 24,000 - 30,000 sq ft of space), and 120+ residential units. A 300+ space multi storey car park is also in the plans and a feasibility study is being carried out on the potential of a new theatre and arts space on the adjacent site.
Soft-market testing has been underway alongside property firm, LSH and a brief was taken to MIPIM, the global property event.
On Forge Island, Damien Wilson, strategic director of regeneration and environment at Rotherham Council, said: "The easiest way to regenerate the site would be just to sell the site to anybody who may come forward with a decent plan. However, what you do then is lose control of the land, lose control of planning to a certain extent. You could do it internally by managing it and implement it yourself at the Council - that carries a greater degree of risk - you are taking on the financial risk and the liabilities as well.
"Our view is to invite a development partner to come along - to go out to the market and invite proposals and options. They will come forward with their proposals, their mix of different types of uses, and we can make an assessment on the basis of quality, on the basis of price, on the basis of whether there might be a financial gap and how that may be plugged. It gives us control because we are not only the owner of the site but also the planning authority. It's a much stronger way of ensuring that you get the development that you would want.
"Having done some work with the private sector over a number of months we are quietly confident that we have an attractive scheme."
The Council has an allocation of funding for the town centre, under their Capital Programme - some £17m. The Council intends to use this and its land holdings to drive forward the developments in the masterplan, but as a funding option of last resort and where it can be shown to draw in other public and private investment to ensure developments proceed. This has been the case in acquiring Forge Island.
Councillors on the planning board of Sheffield Council have unanimously voted in favour of the new 330,000 sq ft Leisure Hall development at Meadowhall. The negative impact on retail centres such as Sheffield city centre and Rotherham town centre was not considered to be "significantly adverse."
The plans are for a multi-level extension housed under a glazed roof on land currently used for car parking. Plans show leisure space to provide a range of other uses to meet the needs of a wide family group, including a new cinema (the existing Vue Cinema will close, and be changed to an alternative leisure use) plus space for food and drink outlets. Some retail space is proposed as a transition between the new and existing sections of the centre.
The board met this week and were recommended to approve the plans by council planners following amendments which saw a proposed food store element removed from the scheme.
Charles Maudsley, head of retail, leisure and residential for British Land (the applicants and co owners of Meadowhall), said: "We are delighted with the Planning Committee’s decision and will now work with our partners and other stakeholders over the coming months on the detail of the Leisure Hall to ensure Meadowhall delivers the maximum benefits for customers, retailers and the wider Sheffield city region.
"The refurbishment completing later this year, our continued leasing success, significant store investment by retailers and the Leisure Hall proposals are all significant steps in the centre's continued evolution."
Advertisement Rotherham Council objected to the plans, stating that it would have a "significant adverse impact upon the vitality and viability of Rotherham town centre."
Studies show that £1.2m (0.7%) of the turnover in Rotherham town centre at 2021 is expected to be diverted to the new Meadowhall development. The applicants argued that Rotherham's Council's comparison of the the core offers of its town centre and Meadowhall was "a simplistic approach [that] fails to recognise the fundamentally different retail offer of both destinations."
Analysts at GVA gave predictions on the draw of the new leisure hall. It said that, at present, only 25% of Meadowhall food and beverage turnover comes from residents of the Sheffield urban area. 75% comes from residents of Rotherham (51%), Barnsley (8%) and the area to the south-east of Sheffield and area between Sheffield and Rotherham. The applicants hope that the offer will become more popular to residents of Sheffield whilst also continuing to attract a large amount of trade from Rotherham and Barnsley.
Rotherham planners are also concerned for the proposed £43m leisure development at Forge Island which is set to be anchored by a cinema and hotel alongside food and beverage units. British Land argued that investor confidence in the Forge Island plans is not likely to be undermined by the new leisure hall given that a cinema already exists at Meadowhall and a hotel is proposed for Rotherham.
The commercial agents for British Land suggest that the likely interest in Forge Island from food and drink operators will be from the fast/contemporary casual national brands, some of which are already trading at Meadowhall (within the Oasis). Frankie and Benny's, Chiquitos, Coast to Coast, Nando's and Harvester are given as examples. The anticipated tenant lineup at the new leisure hall is "aligned to a more mature scheme, with the brands being more aspirational and varied food offers."
Planners at Sheffield Council were in agreement with British Land and also agree that the proposal will "undoubtedly have a negative impact on Rotherham's town centre which is already in a fragile state."
The report to the planning board concluded that: "It is judged that the level of impact on Rotherham town centre is not sufficient to be considered to be significantly adverse which is the planning test for refusing permission."
The applicants, Sheffield Council and Highways England have been working on conditions for the approval based on British Land committing to significant improvements to the road network, especially at Junction 34 of the M1.
Parking incentives, addressing perceptions around antisocial behaviour and extra marketing and promotion are some of the short term measures being looked at to stimulate footfall in Rotherham town centre.
Last month, Rotherham Council pledged to support existing businesses as they wait for the catalyst projects in the new masterplan to revive the town centre.
The masterplan was approved this week by the authority who will now go out to the market to secure a development partner for the key project on Forge Island - a proposed £43m leisure scheme.
The masterplan highlights that the mixed use leisure hub on Forge Island is a key catalyst project but adds that it could be mid 2020 before the scheme is completed.
In the mean time the footfall in the town centre has declined from last year.
Advertisement 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 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 quarterly figure recorded between January and March 2017 was 4,808,955.
For the quarter between April and June 2017 the footfall was 4,875,248, a reduction of 766,048 (13.5%) on the same period last year.
Reflecting a national picture of declining footfall, the Council has revised its target down for this year to over 22,000,000. Last year's target, which was missed by 1.8 million, was 23,699,399.
A report to the Council said: "Trading conditions in the town centre and currently very challenging, with footfall down and vacancies up. The Council are working with town centre traders to identify a suite of interventions to assist in the short to medium-term until the developments set out in the Masterplan start to come on line.
"Led by the Cabinet Member for Jobs and the Economy consultation has taken place with town centre businesses through Rotherham Voice to identify short term measures to stimulate footfall pending long term improvement through the Masterplan.
"This has identified a number of work streams which are currently being developed including:
- investigation of additional parking incentives and parking spaces - a review of licensing of on-street promotions - actions to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour and improve perceptions of safety including consultation on the implementation of a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) - town centre walkabouts with businesses to identify hot-spot areas for additional cleansing - marketing and promotion - opportunities for "meanwhile uses" and window/frontage treatments."
Advertisement The introduction of a proposed PSPO, which includes a number of prohibitions relating to street drinking; littering; rowdy and inconsiderate behaviour and drug related issues, was approved by commissioner Ney at the Council this week.
Earlier this week, an additional 200 temporary spaces have come in to use at the Forge Island car park which offers free all day on Saturday and Sunday and includes a "red zone" of free short stay parking in the week.
Free parking across the town centre looks unlikely to be introduced. Rothbiz reported last month that those behind the masterplan insist that it is not the key to success.
Iceland Foods have been fined £2.5m having been found guilty of breaching health and safety laws when a fatal accident occurred at its store in Rotherham.
Iceland had previously been found guilty of breaching Sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 following a three-week trial held at Sheffield Crown Court in July 2017.
The charges were brought by Rotherham Council following a fatal accident at the Eastwood store on October 28 2013. A contractor had visited the store to replace filters within an air conditioning unit which was located on a plant platform above a suspended ceiling in the store's warehouse.
The contract worker fell almost three metres from the platform and through the suspended ceiling, sustaining fatal injuries.
An investigation by Adrian Monkhouse, principal environmental health officer at the Council, revealed that there were no barriers in place to prevent falls from the platform, the area of the platform immediately in front of the access ladder was restricted (just 45cm in width) and there were several tripping hazards in this area, including cabling and the fixing points for the ladder itself.
Iceland Foods Limited was instructed to take this area out of use until suitable protective measures had been installed on the plant platform. Once this work was carried out to the satisfaction of the investigating officer, the plant platform was put back into use in March 2014.
Advertisement Further investigations revealed that Iceland Foods Limited had not carried out a risk assessment to consider access to the plant platform either by contractors or their own employees. Iceland argued that they had intended for a guardrail to be installed around the plant platform and had in fact paid for one during refurbishment of the store.
In court Iceland contended that they were entitled to rely on the specialist contractors who carried out work on the plant platform to identify the missing handrail. These claims were rejected by the prosecution and the court.
At a sentencing hearing at Grimsby Crown Court this week, the company was fined £1.25m for each offence and ordered to pay the full costs of £65,019.64 to Rotherham Council.
Karen Hanson, assistant director for Community Safety and Street Scene at Rotherham Council, said that the case highlighted the importance of companies considering not only their own employees but the work of contractors as part of their health and safety arrangements.
She said: "All businesses should be aware of the importance of health and safety – particularly for high-risk activities such as working from heights."
Rotherham-based retailer, Fishing Republic, expects to move back into profit this year as the high level of investment in expansion begins to pay off in the second half of the year.
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.
Fishing Republic is acting as a consolidator and expansion plans involve new larger format stores and snapping up smaller, often family-owned fishing retail businesses.
Seven stores have opened this calendar year, with the network growing to 19. 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. New locations for stores are being reviewed, as are potential acquisitions.
Reporting its interim financial results for the six months ended June 30 2017, the Eastwood firm said that revenues were up 64% to £4.09m from the £2.5m in 2016, with like-for-like sales up by 22%. The investment in expansion meant that overall a loss before tax was posted of £0.12m. The same period last year saw a profit before tax of £0.16m.
Fishing Republic continues to execute its multi-channel growth model, focusing on transitioning the majority of online sales to its own websites, where margins are higher and direct relationships can be created with customers. Website sales accelerated in the first half of 2017, with sales up by 140% year-on-year. Total online sales, including revenues through third party platforms, rose by 23% to £929,400.
Advertisement James Newman, chairman of Fishing Republic, said: "Fishing Republic continues to deliver on its ambitions to materially expand its presence, both physically and online, in the fishing tackle marketplace. This is evident in the strong revenue growth achieved in the first half of the year, as store sales rose by 83% and sales via the company's own website grew by 140% in the period.
"The opportunity for Fishing Republic to establish a dominant position in its highly fragmented sector is exciting and the group remains very well-positioned for ongoing growth, both in store and online."
Steve Gross, CEO at Fishing Republic, added: "I am delighted with the progress we have made so far this year. We have continued with the expansion of our "destination" store network, opening five new stores in the period with a further two opened in August. Our estate now stands at 19 stores and covers new geographic regions, including South East Midlands and East Anglia, which will also help to support our online strategy.
"Online sales are also a key focus and we continue to transition away from third party platforms to our own websites, particularly www.fishingrepublic.net. Sales via our own sites grew by 140% and we are supporting them with significant new investment in our site functionality and services. The average customer basket value on our own site was £70.59, compared to £14.54 average basket generated by third party marketplaces.
"We remain excited about the opportunity for consolidation, given the fragmented nature of the sector, and continue to consider complementary acquisitions, as well as organic growth opportunities.
"We look forward to a second half of continuing strong progress."
Rotherham-based Crawshaw Group PLC, the fresh meat and food to go retailer, has given an update on its transitional plans.
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 was expected to enable the restart of its accelerated new store opening programme, with an initial focus on factory shop locations.
In its results for the 26 weeks ended July 30 2017, the board said that progress had been made against the strategy to position Crawshaws as Britain's leading value butcher.
The strategy is focused on accelerating the rollout of its factory shop format. These destination sites are seen as particularly attractive as they allow the retailer to offer even greater value to customers through larger pack sizes and value progression. Factory shops are a simpler model to implement and operate, have lower rents and require significantly lower set up costs.
Crawshaws now has eight standalone factory shop units and has reduced set up costs by 25% to aid future openings. The target rate is ten new shops a year, with factory shops expected to account for well over half of group revenue in 2020.
New stores in Liverpool and York are the latest openings.
Revenue for the group was up 2.3% to £22.1m but a loss before tax of £1.2m was reported. Losses had widened from the loss of £0.4m reported in the same period last year. Like for like sales were down 4.2%.
Crawshaw said it had re-established its customer base but margins were being affected by a weakness in sterling.
Advertisement 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.
Noel Collett, CEO at Crawshaws plc, said: "These results demonstrate progress in ensuring we have high quality products at the lowest possible prices. The improvements to the breadth, depth and price of our ranges are driving the significantly improving trend in customer numbers, which is a key metric of loyalty and success in preparation for the important winter and festive season ahead.
"As part of our focus on achieving unbeatable value, we are prioritising and accelerating the rollout of our proven factory shop format. The economics of these sites are hugely attractive, and they allow us to offer a wider range of fresh meat and associated products at a price not possible in our high street shops.
"We remain excited by our 2Sisters supply agreement and believe this partnership will be transformational for the long-term growth of the Group. Market conditions remain challenging, but we are confident that our focus on value leaves us well placed for the long-term."
Jim McCarthy, chairman of Crawshaw plc, added: "Since joining Crawshaws earlier this year, I have been impressed by the progress that Noel and the team are making. The accelerated roll out of the successful factory shop format is strengthening the business's reputation for delivering amazing value, which is underpinned by the transformational supply agreement with 2Sisters.
"Crawshaws is one of the most exciting businesses in the value sector and the Board is confident that all the work done this year means the business is well set to create value for investors."
A Grade II listed retail parade built on the site of the College of Jesus in Rotherham town centre has gone up for sale.
2-6 Effingham Street is described as an investment opportunity and is being marketed by property firm, JLL with a guide price of £1.1m.
The opportunity includes the freehold of four well configured retail units with separately accessed office accommodation above. The 8,000 sq ft of retail space is fully let by national retailers Greggs, Harvey & Thompson, Timpsons and The Cash Shop. The upper floors are currently vacant and are being advertised with the potential of conversion into residential units, subject to planning.
The sales brochure shows that the property brings in £104,815 per annum and the £1.1m sale price represents an initial yield of 9%.
Advertisement The brochure states: "The property occupies a prominent and 100% prime retailing position at the corner of the pedestrianised College Street and Effingham Street, on the eastern side of All Saints Square.
"The property was constructed in the 1930's and provides a retail parade comprising of four retail units at ground floor, ancillary accommodation on the first floor and office accommodation on the second floor. The property is Grade II listed, and is within the Rotherham Town Centre conservation area."
The property, along with the large B&M Bargains unit that surrounds it, are built on the site of the former College of Jesus.
In 1482, Thomas Rotherham, the priest who was appointed Archbishop of York and Lord Chancellor, oversaw construction of the Chapel of Jesus on the south side of All Saints Church in Rotherham and the following year saw work start on the Chapel on the Bridge. Thomas was also responsible for the College of Jesus on the site of his birthplace, accommodating church choristers and grammar school teachers.
Following the suppression of chantries in 1547, the college buildings were converted to a mansion, before becoming part of the College Inn. For many years College Yard / College Square was a focal point of the town; large crowds gathering to hear the proclamation of new monarchs, the declaration of election results and on other public occasions.
Parts of the college building survive incorporated into later buildings. The remnants are notable as the earliest surviving brick structure in South Yorkshire and formed part of a fundamental element in the development of Rotherham.
The walls of the college were repeatedly altered before being incorporated into present structure dated 1930 and by the architects, Flockton of Sheffield. They were thought to be lost but were re-exposed during internal remodelling in 1984 but are now encased.
A 17th Century doorway from college buildings was re-erected in the nearby Boston Park.
A serial fashion entrepreneur whose clothing and accessories can be found in leading high street retailers and boutiques across the globe has opened her own boutique in her hometown of Rotherham.
For over ten years, Claire Middleton has been providing alternative style clothing to the fashion savvy, with her unique alternative fashion designs being found on the rails of the UK's leading clothing retailers including Topshop, New Look and ASOS.
Claire, from Brinsworth, launched her first clothing brand Alice Takes A Trip in 2006 with her fellow fashion design graduate sister, Lauren.
Following the birth of her second child, Claire embarked upon a second venture, pioneering Skeletots, an alternative baby wear range. As demand for the range began to grow, business savvy Claire decided to seize the opportunity and bring her designs back to her home town where her career in fashion began, launching a boutique to showcase her own clothing range as well as using her knowledge of the industry to support other local designers.
Claire contacted Rotherham Council to enquire about business rates in the town and the support available to new businesses and she was introduced to Launchpad; a free-to-access programme which is backed by European funding and helps entrepreneurs to transform business ideas into a commercial reality. Over the past three months, Claire has been working with a business advisor to formulate a business plan, pitch for funding and market her business further both online and in store.
Working with Launchpad, Claire opened her boutique Boneyard & Co just three months ago in Parkgate, and inspired by Rotherham's creative sector, decided to transform areas of the store into an art gallery and workshop, combining the world of retail whilst delivering workshops on technical fashion design skills such as pattern cutting and sewing.
AdvertisementClaire Middleton, owner of Boneyard & Co, said: "I've always had an interest in alternative fashion and spent my spare time drawing up designs in my bedroom. After completing my degree I landed a job in an alterations shop and continued to design in my spare time but when I turned 30 I decided it was now or never.
"The success my sister and I had with Alice Takes A Trip was beyond our wildest imaginations and seeing our designs in the Oxford Circus Topshop store was a truly amazing experience. I decided to draw on the success we achieved with our designs to open my own store in Rotherham where I could sell our clothing whilst also providing a platform and hub to support other local designers.
"Running a retail business is very different to producing new clothing designs and I realised that to succeed I needed help. The council referred me to Launchpad and they have supported me from the very early stages of my business: from developing the plans to launching and opening my store. Like many new business owners, it's been a roller-coaster ride but the help and support I've received has been invaluable and it's reassuring to know that I can continue to call upon the service for advice and assistance as the boutique begins to grow and evolve."
Julia Millea, business advisor from SCR Launchpad, added: "Launchpad was developed to provide advice and support for entrepreneurs and start-up business owners when they need it the most and the free-to-access programme is available throughout the Sheffield City Region.
"When I started working with Claire she had already achieved significant success with her first clothing brand and knew exactly the kind of unique service and experience she wanted to offer to her customers. The challenge she faced was transforming the original concept into a reality, developing the Boneyard & Co brand as well as understanding how to attract new customers in a retail environment."
Plans for a £50m retail, office and leisure scheme at Waverley in Rotherham are being recommended for approval by local authority planning officers.
Land owners and developers, Harworth Group plc established a joint venture company, Waverley Square Limited, with Dransfield Properties, the Barnsley-based company that specialises in retail led regeneration schemes, to bring forward the "the piece of the jigsaw" between the residential and commercial developments at the regeneration site on the former Orgreave coking works.
An application was submitted earlier this year detailing some 100,000 sq ft of retail space including a 20,774 sq ft foodstore; high spec office space covering 38,285 sq ft; restaurants, coffee shops and a gym; a medical and community facility covering 11,464 sq ft; and a small bus station.
The application is set to go before the planning board at Rotherham Council next week with officers recommending that members approve the 12 acre scheme. It will also need to be referred to the Secretary of State's National Planning Casework Unit for a final sign off.
With the expertise of Dransfield, the scheme has been designed and updated to create a lively, mixed scheme including food and non-food retail, alongside food and drink outlets, offices and leisure uses.
Advertisement Revisions include replacing the hotel with office space, relocating the proposed 20,000 sq ft foodstore to the other side of the courtyard, and the inclusion of a pedestrian bridge and rooftop space.
The development is Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) liable.
A number of objections have been received with some residents raising concerns over traffic, parking and operating hours. Support has been received from local MPs and occupiers of the nearby Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) such as Rolls-Royce who said that the plans are of a "necessary scale and ambition to match the quality of existing occupiers at the AMP and will create a vibrant heart to the wider development that Rotherham and the wider Sheffield City Region can be proud of."
The application states that the development could create 700 full-time equivalent jobs and generate business rates in the region of approximately £1.5m once fully occupied.
Having been satisfied over the potential negative impact by transport and environmental health officers, the planning report states: "Having assessed the principle of development it is necessary to consider it as part of the overall planning balance. A number of benefits would result from the proposed development, including the creation of jobs and the provision of community facilities which include a health and community centre, bus station and food and drink provision. These are important community benefits that will aid in the continued sustainable development of the Waverley New Community and adjacent AMP.
"The other benefits of the proposed development include the regeneration of this previously undeveloped site to the benefit of the self-sufficiency of the new community and surrounding areas, the provision of permanent jobs and benefit to the local economy; the provision of leisure and recreation facilities and connection of the centre with the AMP via the new pedestrian links across Highfield Spring, which include the provision of a new signalised pedestrian crossing, bridge into the proposed development and access ramp on Waverley Walk."
Advertisement A submitted sequential test rules out sites earmarked for other uses such as Forge Island and vacant town centre units that are too small. The Waverley scheme is also not expected to impact on potential investment in the town centre coming out of the new masterplan.
An impact assessment recognises that the scheme will draw trade from some existing centres including Rotherham town centre but adds that the level of trade division and impact is considered to be within acceptable levels and would not be classed as "significant adverse" against national planning policy terms. It is expected that the new retail offering will prevent Rotherham spend leaking into Sheffield.
It means that controls are proposed over the gross retail floorspace, net comparison goods floorspace, along with a restriction over the range of comparison goods to be sold. There will be a limit on the A1 retail space and how much floorspace can be used for the sale of clothing and footwear and toys and games for example.
The planning report concludes: "The impact of the Waverley development obviously needs to be seen in the context of the wider cumulative impacts of committed and proposed retail developments in the local area. There are further retail developments which will add to the growing impact upon the health of Rotherham town centre, which is of significant concern, but after further consideration, it is considered that a suitably controlled development can avoid the claim that it is likely to have a significant adverse impact on Rotherham town centre.
"When these benefits are weighed against the impact of the proposal on the town centre, a balance has to be struck."
The retailer has stores nationwide and specialises in men's formalwear and smart casual clothing whilst also developing the 1860 Brand, a hire wear specialist of wedding, evening and Highland wear suits. The company also operates its niche brand "Mansize" which caters for the larger man, whilst still retaining high quality styling and fabrics.
The Rotherham "flagship" store opened on College Street in 2011 in the former Music Zone unit. The move into the store was helped by an £8,000 grant from the Council's Town Centre Business Vitality Grant Scheme.
The stores have continued to trade, despite third party supplier ACS Clothing Limited, which supplied the suit hire to Greenwoods Menswear, pulling out.
The latest deal via the administrators will see 40 stores, central warehouse and its 11 staff, and head office and its 15 staff now operated by Versatile International Trading. The move means 181 jobs have been saved, but 88 people will lose their jobs thanks to the closure of 22 stores.
The Rotherham store is set to remain open.
Advertisement Adrian Berry, joint administrator, said: "This sale represents the best outcome for the business, which has been trading in administration for over six weeks. A significant proportion of the employees now have their jobs protected and we would like to thank all of them for their support during this difficult period."
The firm has struggled in the challenging retail sector before. In 2009 Greenwoods was bought out of administration by Harvest Fancy Hong Kong Ltd, an arm of Bosideng, one of China's biggest clothing chains. Under subsidiary, Pacific Trend Investment, the business was then acquired by fully by Bosideng in October 2014.
An investment and restructuring plan was underway but it was reported earlier this year that Bosideng, which has around 10,000 stores in China, was pulling out of its flagship London store which was expected to be a launchpad for a move into Europe.
For the financial year to March 31 2016, turnover at Greenwoods was £2m down on the previous year at £22.2m. Pre-tax losses went from £1.7m to £1.4m.
With national retailer, Primark, looking all set to open its new Rotherham store next month, the current unit on the High Street is looking for new tenants.
Rothbiz reported in March that Primark was to open a new store at Parkgate Shopping, relocating from Rotherham town centre.
Sitting alongside M&S and Curry's/PC World, the new Primark store will occupy 33,100 sq ft of retail space over two levels and will create over 40 new jobs, bringing the total number of employees to 107.
BMO Real Estate Partners, the owners of Parkgate Shopping, have moved quickly to fit out the store to Primark's latest contemporary shop fit, including a double-height glazed frontage, new signage and an extension to the mezzanine trading level.
With the impending move from one former BHS unit to another, joint agents at Smith Young and Edgerley Simpson Howe have been brought in to market the prominent High Street unit.
Advertisement One of the largest retail units in Rotherham town centre, 11-13 High Street is described as a "prime retail opportunity" and extends to some 22,343 sq ft on the ground floor, currently in use by Primark. The first floor covers 19,237 sq ft and there is over 1,000 sq ft on the second floor.
The property is being advertised as leasehold but freehold offers will be considered. The rent for the property has been given a guide price of offers in excess of £200,000 per annum exclusive.
The rateable value, which influences the business rates payable by the occupier, is £192,000.
Rotherham Council has acknowledged that the retailer's move will have an impact on the already falling footfall rates in Rotherham town centre. The authority said in August: "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."
Associated British Foods plc, which owns Primark, reported this week that the chain "performed particularly well in the UK where full year sales are expected to be 10% ahead of last year on a comparable basis and our share of the total clothing market has increased significantly."
1.5 million sq ft of selling space has been created by Primark this year and 30 new stores were opened across nine countries - nine in the UK. With 345 stores, over 1.2 million sq ft of additional selling space is being planned for next year.
Joint developers Harworth Group plc and Dransfield Properties Ltd have welcomed the unanimous backing of the planning board at Rotherham Council for their £50m retail, office and leisure scheme at Waverley in Rotherham.
Rothbiz reported last week that the application was being recommended for approval by Council planners. And so it was - the members of the board voting eleven for and 0 against, having heard how the benefits will outweigh any negative impacts.
The plans will now be referred to the Secretary of State's National Planning Casework Unit for a final sign off.
The applicant stated at the meeting that work could get underway in June between the residential and commercial developments at the regeneration site on the former Orgreave coking works. Construction would take an estimated 72 weeks.
Advertisement Known as Waverley Square, the plans are for "the piece of the jigsaw" creating a local centre for residents and businesses. It includes some 100,000 sq ft of retail space including a 20,774 sq ft foodstore; high spec office space covering 38,285 sq ft; restaurants, coffee shops and a gym; a medical and community facility covering 11,464 sq ft; and a small bus station.
Owen Michaelson, chief executive of Harworth Group plc, said: "This is a key development for Rotherham and for the Sheffield city region in that it will create the sort of high-quality local facilities that both businesses at the Advanced Manufacturing Park and local residents increasingly expect. Waverley is growing into a prominent placemaking destination in the region and these facilities will further attract new residents and businesses to live and work at the development."
Mark Dransfield, managing director of Dransfield Properties, added: "We are delighted that our application for Waverley has now been approved by Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council.
"We have been keen from the outset to design a genuinely outstanding scheme befitting of Waverley, with architecture and materials to match. With the combined experience and knowledge of our two companies we are confident we will deliver an excellent scheme for Waverley to serve this growing community over the next two and a half years."
The planning board heard how the applicants had worked with Council planners to bring forward a scheme as the retail, commercial property and housing sectors had changed since the outline approval of the Waverley scheme in 2010. The application site had originally been envisaged as becoming home to a large Government office campus.
Working with South Yorkshire architects Dixon Dawson, the bus station in the scheme draws architectural inspiration from Kings Cross, whilst rooftop space draws inspiration from the High Line public space in New York. Overall the scheme is very similar to Dransfield's Fox valley scheme in Stocksbridge.
Nigel Hancock, assistant planning manager at Rotherham Council, told the board: "This is a large mixed use centre, a large development. It's in an out of town location and it is for some town centre uses. So it does need some careful consideration.
"The applicant themselves have shown a willingness to adapt the scheme and worked very hard with us to overcome our original concerns."
Objections had been received, mainly from local residents raising concerns regarding traffic, parking and operating hours.
Variations were made as the Council was concerned over the impact on other town centres, including Rotherham town centre. The planning permission comes with a number of conditions over the gross retail floorspace, net comparison goods floorspace, and a restriction over the range of comparison goods to be sold.
The application states that the development could create 700 full-time equivalent jobs and generate business rates in the region of approximately £1.5m once fully occupied.
Advertisement Mark Dransfield spoke at the board meeting. He told members: "This has been the subject of 18 months work of our company and consultants and we have worked very closely with members and officers. We do take our position in our community very seriously and we have consulted with residents, town councils and MPs. We have listened to what people have had to say and the scheme has changed significantly since we first started.
"We are aware of the residents' concerns and hopefully we can allay some of those fears, maybe not all, but we will do our utmost to do that. We are acutely aware that those are our customers as well so we would not want to do anything that would offend our residents.
"We appreciate also that you are concerned about the health of Rotherham town centre. We as a company objected to Meadowhall vehemently because my company is "town centre first" and whilst it is treated at the moment as an out of town application, I believe that this is a local centre and we will be servicing a local need here.
"Just to give you some names - Martin's Newsagents, Timpson's, Domino's, Home Bargains, Boots, Iceland, Vets4Pets, Specsavers. They are all in your town centres and they are not going to come out of the town centre because we are putting them in here. This services, in our understanding, a different catchment."
At the same meeting, plans were also approved for Coda's innovative plans for new style back to back housing on the Waverley site.
A Grade II listed "hidden gem" of a building in Rotherham town centre is set to be brought back to life as a boutique hotel under new plans revealed this week.
The George Wright building is an early 19th century former office built in a Tudor Revival style. It is tucked away behind the High Street on The Crofts and was saved from being lost forever by Chris Hamby who has pioneered the heritage-led regeneration project to create a complex of mixed-used retail outlets focusing on listed buildings.
With the initial focus on the restoration of the Three Cranes building and the retail units which are fully let, plans have now been submitted and work is already underway to continue the conversion of the George Wright building.
This project is being pioneered by another local businessman who sees the potential of the town and the importance of recognising its heritage - Mark McGrail, who found success with Parkgate-based SME Environmental Services and last year completed the 1915 Bar & Bistro in the town centre.
Advertisement The latest plans for the George Wright building, drawn up by White Design Ltd, are for an internal fitout, external landscaping works and refurbishment, including some new windows and doors and change of use class to become a restaurant, bar and boutique hotel.
The building was famously occupied by George Wright & Company in the 1800's who designed and manufactured elaborate stoves and fireplaces. The site also formed lawyer's offices from 1777-1887.
Mark McGrail, explains: "It's being lovingly restored, keeping its listed features, converted to a boutique hotel. Each room is being restored and dedicated to a person of Rotherham's past and future. The facility will have a gin tasting bar, open terrace front and back, with a botanical type garden to the rear. And there is a gallery restaurant with open kitchen."
With seven rooms, the intention is to create a high quality establishment – "a hidden gem", set away from the main thoroughfare of the High Street.
Mark added: "It has two wedding apartments which open up opposite the Minster with the view, specifically for the church, and there is access to and from the High Street. We are looking to post two cannon at the front entrance with space for a horse drawn carriage to be able to enter in and out."
Advertisement The original stone built two-storey, Grade II listed building was constructed in 1850. It includes a two and three storey annex to the north that had been subjected to fire, leaving the roof and upper floors missing. The regeneration scheme enabled the shell of the building to be repaired and restored in 2013 but the interior has remained vacant.
The overall plan that enabled the buildings to be removed from Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register was backed by a £750,000 long term capital finance loan from Rotherham Council that secured £677,000 of Heritage Lottery Funding (HLF) for additional, much needed works. A further £630,000 was made available by the Council to continue the restoration.
McGrail's first major revamp created the 1915 Bar and saved the vacant 8,000 sq ft property that was previously The Exchange and formerly Yates Wine Lodge from demolition. It also created space for Sorting Office, a new creative collective of artist studios.
It is five years since Rotherham town centre was named as a Portas Pilot by the Government. Rothbiz editor Tom Austen takes a look at some of the issues affecting Rotherham and other town centres.
The Portas review of 2011 set out in detail what the retail consultant thought we all needed to do to breathe economic and community life back into our high streets. It covered issues that rang true in Rotherham, and across the country. She said at the time: "The new high streets won't just be about selling goods. The mix will include shops but could also include housing, offices, sport, schools or other social, commercial and cultural enterprises and meeting places."
Five years later, and after a number of local plans, studies, masterplans and documents (at significant cost no doubt), it is clear that the focus for Rotherham now is on new housing and leisure uses to boost the town centre. A recent report from consultants was clear that retail is not the answer.
The same 2017 retail study showed that just over £1 in every £10 from the Borough's residents is still being spent in Rotherham town centre - its main use now for convenience goods. However, £2.50 in every £10 spent by the Borough's residents is spent at Parkgate and £2 in every £10 is being spent at Meadowhall. I wonder how much is spent online?
Home to big name stores and free parking (subsidised by the bigger rents), Parkgate and Meadowhall are the main shopping destinations for comparison goods. You can add to that the evidence from recent studies that showed that 51% of Meadowhall's food and beverage turnover comes from residents of Rotherham.
There are opportunities to claw some of this spend back. Leisure, food and beverage stands out and consultants say there is a market for a cinema in the town. However, residents need to get over their desire for Rotherham town centre to look like it did in its retail heyday with department stores and lots of national retailers. It is not going to happen. Shoppers have changed how, and where, they spend and retailers have changed how they sell to us.
The focus for the town centre now is leisure and housing. Perhaps retailers will follow / return when the town is more viable? Convenience goods retailers and a range of service are here for the foreseeable future. With the support from the Portas pilot, the town will continue to offer something different with niche, independent retailers (who care about their town).
Why it has taken so long to adopt a plan to shrink the town's retail core and look at other uses, I don't know, but it is estimated that the catalyst leisure development in the new masterplan that is set to revive the town - the £43m cinema and hotel led proposal for Forge Island - is not planned to be ready until 2020.
I'm looking forward seeing the impact of the new projects (1,000 students at the new University Centre Rotherham has got to help, for example) and for the town centre to find its new role, but it could still get worse before it gets better.
Portas recently told BBC Radio 4: "The last five years, three years particularly, with the growth of internet, has been actually shifting beyond how we ever thought retail would shift and when you start to look at some of the biggest names in retail who have tried desperately to ride this wave and failed, your heart goes out to the independents.
"There needs to be greater, greater support, and vision, from Government. And real understanding of what we need as a country, and what we want as a country, from our High Streets and our communities."
The Portas review looked at other issues, calling on the Government to address business rates and absentee landlords. A 2017 rates review saw some rents in Rotherham town centre go up, whilst others went down. Many smaller units receive rate relief, or pay no rates at all.
The only retailer in Rotherham that I can remember benefiting from a national scheme that offered a period of reduced rates for taking on a vacant property was Wilkos when it opened at Parkgate in 2014. Not really any help to our town centre which I think was the aim of the initiative.
The retail and property industry is still waiting for the Government to address the rates issue. Another national relief scheme announced in March is yet to come into force in Rotherham.
Portas also said that local authorities should use their discretionary powers to give business rate concessions to new local businesses. I can only recall Rotherham Council giving concessions to charities and community projects (the fantastic Grimm & Co in the town centre is an example), along with getting KP Nuts to stay in the area.
Whilst I'm here, a new out of town retail development has recently opened at Cortonwood. Passed only on appeal, Rotherham Council refused the application, raising concerns over the impact of the development on Rotherham town centre, and not convinced by applicants that sequentially preferable sites in Rotherham and Barnsley town centres could not be used for the 100,000 sq ft of retail space.
Now open, my rough calculations indicate that the ten new national retailers at Cortonwood will have a collective rates bill that would see the Council retain perhaps £500,000 a year. I'd like to see this income ringfenced and used for boosting the economy and supporting our town centres. Difficult when the authority has a funding black hole but still...
On a related point, Mary Portas made a recommendation for the Government to have the Secretary of State have "exceptional sign off" for all new out-of-town developments and require all large new developments to have an "affordable shops" quota. Would it have affected Cortonwood? The planning inspector siding with the developer suggests not.
Portas also recommended that local areas should implement free controlled parking schemes that work for their town centres. Some free parking is offered in Council car parks, short stay on Forge Island for example, but the issue comes up time and time again (Parking is also free for three hours at Tesco so long as you spend a fiver in store).
The new masterplan makes it clear that free parking across the board is not the answer for revitalising the town centre. The authority recently pledged to investigate additional parking incentives and parking spaces. It will be difficult given that most councils have got used to the income that parking generates and a lot of car parks are owned by private companies. The conflict between long staying workers and short staying shoppers is also an issue.
Possible initiatives might include pay on exit barriers where the first hour is free and you only pay for how long you stay, or money off parking if you spend with local retailers (taking a leaf out of Tesco's book).
Advertisement Another recommendation was focused on making high streets accessible, attractive and safe. In Rotherham, a lot of this comes down to perception. If people stay away because they think it is unsafe, even though the stats show that reported crime is a lot lower here, then it is still an issue that needs addressing. I found it hard to understand when reading that only 18% of Rotherham pupils in a survey said they felt safe in town centre, but there it is.
I'm looking forward to seeing the review of the newly introduced Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) but how do you measure perceptions? At least, from what I'm told, the perceptions of the town from investors and developers has changed in so far that there is "significant interest" in the Forge Island scheme.
What else? Portas took aim at betting shops but even with a change in planning rules, Rotherham Council failed in a bid to stop Paddy Power opening in the town centre.
On landlords, Portas discussed ideas around lease structures, further disincentives to prevent landlords from leaving units vacant and prompted Council's to be more proactive in using Compulsory Purchase Order powers to encourage the redevelopment of key high street retail space.
In Rotherham, this issue has never been more evident on Corporation Street (pictured, top) where Council bosses were reaching the "last resort" having failed to engage with the absentee owners of burnt-out, eyesore, long-vacant buildings, despite numerous attempts.
As my other article shows, I think that the efforts to improve the retail offer by supporting independent retailers in Rotherham has been a success, but with stretched council budgets, a distinct lack of a sustained follow up from the Government and a retail sector that continues to shift, it's the same issues that are affecting our town centres. The new projects in the masterplan can't come soon enough for Rotherham.
It is five years since Rotherham town centre was named as a Portas Pilot by the Government. Rothbiz editor Tom Austen takes a look at the changes on the High Street.
In 2012, Rotherham Council and its partners secured £100,000 from the Government. A pot of £350,000 was compiled to test the "Town Team" approach and pilot ideas and recommendations set out in the Mary Portas Review. At its heart was the extension of the grants scheme to support shops in a bid to retain and attract independent traders, boosting the vitality of the town centre by offering something different.
British Land, the then owner of the nearby Parkgate Shopping, made a £130,000 contribution (linked to securing planning permission for Frankie & Benny's) and this was followed up with £268,000 awarded as part of the Government's High Street Renewal Award.The business vitality scheme aimed at encouraging new independent retailers to open up outlets in Rotherham town centre has been running since 2008. The scheme has provided discretionary financial assistance in the form of rental contributions, business planning, business advice, customer service training, and contributions to shop front grants, fit out costs and street furniture.
Funding was also set aside to support existing town centre retailers to help them undertake significant business development projects.
Coupled with the capital investment to support Chris Hamby and his heritage-led regeneration of the High Street, you have to say that the effort to create an offer that was distinct, with niche independent retailers, has been largely successful.
Advertisement The Maker's Emporium (pictured, below), which was hailed by Mary Portas on a return visit to the town in 2014, is absolutely full. 3,000 sq ft of retail space on the High Street is run by apprentices and showcases handmade products by local crafters, designers and artists. It echoes one of Portas' recommendations to Government around making it easier for people to become traders.
Other examples include the expansion of the Whistle Stop Sweet Shop to include a new temperance bar, and the renovation of Stems florists. La Bella Lingerie is still going strong having initially set up in the short term, backed by the Council's Pop-up Shop concept.
Examples of investment from current traders saw Andrew's Butcher's and Craft Corner and Bears' Den move into new premises from Riverside Precinct. Local greengrocer John Norris also took on a new site. The excellent Miele Delicatessen was also awarded funding for their street furniture.
Indeed, Rotherham town centre came out on top at the 2015 Great British High Streets Awards, a Government-backed competition to find and celebrate the nation's best high streets. It was due to its "incredible support for start-up businesses and local retailers" and for the success of the Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI).
In contrast, there has been a loss of some of the town's independents. Baby Blossom Boutique, which began as a pop up shop, has moved online but still sells at fairs and events. Props Skate Store, Patchwork Pig and Sophisticakes are also sadly missed.
It's the national retailers that make the headlines though and Rotherham's tale is similar to High Streets up and down the country. 2017 has been particularly bad with names such as New Look and Thorntons leaving the town centre and the biggest national name remaining, Primark, is due to leave soon.
The ins and outs over the last five years has meant that the vacancy rate in Rotherham town centre has gone from 25% down to 14% and back up to over 25%. A similar improvement, and then decline, has been seen in the footfall figures.
Advertisement The review included 27 recommendations and Rothbiz has picked out some of them here. In relation to Rotherham, business rates, parking and absent landlords are the same issues affecting the town centre, as they were five years ago.
With no evaluation of the 27 Portas Pilots, I'll leave it for the "Queen of Shops" to conclude, five years later, on how the Government responded to her review. Portas (pictured visiting Rotherham in 2011), told BBC Radio 4: "What I hoped with the Portas Review was to highlight to Government what the real issues were, put in some important policies to move forward. When they [the coalition Government] did the pilots it was a hastily created policy. It was a nice, shiny, possibly weighted, PR campaign and I thought it was going to kickstart much more. But it didn't.
"What it was meant to do, what it should have done, was to kickstart the impetus and then Government be behind it with real policy change, and it didn't happen.
"The towns did their bit, I'm not sure the Government did theirs."
Rotherham-based retailer, Fishing Republic, has brought in a new CEO to continue to grow its online sales having seen "a significant deterioration in trading."
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.
Fishing Republic is acting as a consolidator and expansion plans involve new larger format stores and snapping up smaller, often family-owned fishing retail businesses. It is also moving online sales away from third party websites to its own sites where margins are higher.
In a trading update, the firm said that the deterioration was due to a substantial increase in price competition as major competitors and independent stores have aggressively sought to maintain their market share, particularly at the end of the main fishing season.
Fishing Republic has seen a reduction in monthly like-for-like store sales for the first time this year, with a decline of 13% in October. This is in contrast to like-for-like sales growth of 16% experienced in the nine months up to the end of September.
The online business was similarly affected and, whilst sales via its own website are up 116% and overall online sales are up 24% in the year-to-date, the board said that the "transition from third party sites to our own website is behind our expectations."
Advertisement The business remains cash positive but the board is worried that the trading conditions will lead to an overall loss for the year.
Seven stores have opened this calendar year, with the network growing to 19, but the board said that the execution of the online model "requires further focus and acceleration."
Consequently, the board has agreed to appoint Chris Griffin (pictured) as acting CEO to conduct a strategic review. The update said: "Chris has a very strong e-commerce, retail and logistics background and was director of E-commerce at SuperGroup plc, owner of the Superdry brand, from 2010 and 2014, during which time online sales grew from £3m to £60m. More recently, he founded and built the revolutionary supply chain software business, Anatwine Limited.
"Chris will be particularly focussed on improving execution of the e-commerce business and the capital efficiency of the business, especially in further reducing and making better use of inventory."
Steve Gross, the company founder, will step down as CEO but will remain on the board as an executive director. Zoe Gross, operations director and Paul Hagerty, IT director, will step down from the board with immediate effect.
National retailer, Primark is adding the finishing touches to its new 33,100 sq ft store at Parkgate Shopping in Rotherham.
Rothbiz reported in March that Primark was to open a new store at Parkgate Shopping, relocating from Rotherham town centre.
Sitting alongside M&S and Curry's/PC World, the new Primark store will occupy two levels and will create over 40 new jobs, bringing the total number of employees to 107.
The clothing and accessories retailer has now confirmed that the relocation will take place at the end of the month, with the new store set to open on November 29.
Advertisement Associated British Foods plc, which owns Primark, recently reported that the chain had enjoyed a rise in sales by 19% to a total of £7.05bn for the year ended September 16 2017. The share of the total clothing market increased significantly and underlying operating profit was up by 7% on the previous year to £735m.
George Weston, chief executive of Associated British Foods, said: "This was a highly successful year for the group. These results reflect our international diversity, and the strong underlying performance of our businesses was driven by management actions throughout the year. Capital investment was a record as we continued to pursue the opportunities to grow our businesses into the future."
1.5 million sq ft of selling space has been created by Primark this year and 30 new stores were opened across nine countries - nine in the UK. With 345 stores, over 1.2 million sq ft of additional selling space is being planned for next year. 19 new stores are planned, together with a number of relocations and extensions - including in Rotherham.
Advertisement Weston added: "Notwithstanding this highly successful year, Primark constantly seeks better ways of delivering value to customers, be that through store design and location, stock availability, or enhancing its reputation for on-trend fashion. The Primark website and social media are playing an ever more important role in the relationship with our customers in driving awareness of our products and footfall in our stores.
"Primark will continue to expand its selling space across all its countries of operation with another strong programme of new store openings scheduled for the coming year."
