Decision details

Date of Decision:

26^th March 2026

Title:

Acquisition of property interests at Corporation Street, Rotherham

Decision Maker:

(Including Job Title)

Kevin Fisher, Service Director for Property and Facilities Service.

Details of Specific Delegation

or

Delegation contained in the relevant Sub-Scheme of Delegation.

Decision taken under the powers granted to the Property Officer under section 29.11 of the Council’s Financial Procurement Procedure Rules (Appendix 5 of the Council’s Constitution).

Paragraph 29.11 states in respect of the acquisition of land and property, where the value of acquisition is greater than £100,000, Cabinet approval must be in place prior to the completion of the purchase.

In addition, further approval was granted as part of the Cabinet report

Cabinet on 28^th March 2022 (Minute 124) ‘Resolved: -  

That the Assistant Director for Planning, Regeneration and Transport be authorised to negotiate the acquisition by agreement of the property interests at Appendix 1, in consultation with the Council’s Section 151 Officer and the Cabinet Member for Jobs and the Local Economy, and the Assistant Director of Legal Services be authorised to complete the necessary transactions.’

The identified decision maker as per the above delegation is no longer the Property Officer, as this function has now moved to the Service Director for Property and Facilities Services.

Decision:

Approve the acquisition of property interests at Corporation Street, Rotherham.

Reasons for the Decision:

To progress with the regeneration of Rotherham Town Centre and the Council’s Masterplan ambitions as set out in Regeneration Programme: Strategic Land Assembly.

Details of alternative options considered and rejected:

The preferred option is to acquire all properties by agreement,

Consideration has been given to entering into partnership arrangements with landowners rather than taking full control of the land. In progressing negotiations this approach will be considered on a project-by-project basis, however in many cases, and as understood through early consultation, landowners do not always wish to bring forward schemes fitting with masterplan ambitions, or development is not in the core business of the landowners.

Do nothing is not a recommended option, considering the Council’s ambitious plans for economic growth and regeneration in the Borough.

Acquisition of each property could be brought forward on an individual basis, however, considering the quantity of land and property for acquisition and the timeframe it is considered that seeking approvals on a site-by-site basis would introduce a significant risk to the programme, in terms of readiness for timely acquisitions and delivery of the programme. It is considered more appropriate and efficient to delegate acquisition as described in this report.

Conflicts of interest declared by any Cabinet Member consulted by the decision maker which relates to the decision:

None declared

Dispensations Granted:

(If any)

None

Conflicts of interest declared by the Decision Maker if they sit as a Cabinet appointed representative to an outside body which relates to the decision:

No conflicts known or declared

Dispensations Granted:

(If any)

None

Reports or parts of reports considered

Appendix 1 – Red Line Boundary Plans EXEMPT

March 2022 Cabinet

March 2022 Cabinet printed minutes ITEM 124