Issue - meetings

Report of the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment

Cabinet Member:     Councillor Lelliott (in advisory role)

Commissioner:         Kenny

Recommendations:

1.  That the Forge Island site be purchased on the terms negotiated by the Strategic Director, Regeneration and Environment.

2.  That following purchase the former Tesco store be demolished.

3.  That the funding for the acquisition and demolition be drawn from the town centre allocation in the Capital Programme and that a bid be submitted to Sheffield City Region to seek Growth Fund money to assist with the acquisition and demolition.

4.  That Full Council be recommended to approve inclusion of the scheme in the Capital Programme to cover the cost of acquisition and the demolition costs in respect of Forge Island.

5.  That detailed development proposals and a delivery and implementation plan for the site be prepared in tandem with the town centre masterplan.

6.  The Assistant Director of Legal Services be authorised to complete the necessary legal documentation to purchase the site.

Consideration was given to a report which sought approval for the Council to purchase the Forge Island site, which was proposed to be a key component in Rotherham town centre’s regeneration.

It was reported that the recently adopted Rotherham Town Centre Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) had identified Forge Island as a strategic development site, which would be a major component of the town centre’s regeneration and a catalyst for the regeneration of adjacent sites. It was further reported that the Council had commissioned internal and independent external valuations of the site, a technical assessment of ground conditions, and a flooding study and carried out market analysis and market testing.

The report recommended that the site be purchased by agreement with Tesco, which currently owned the land.

Commissioner Kenny agreed:-

(1)  That the Forge Island site be purchased on the terms negotiated by the Strategic Director, Regeneration and Environment.

(2)  That following purchase the former Tesco store be demolished.

(3) That the funding for the acquisition and demolition be drawn from the town centre allocation in the Capital Programme and that a bid be submitted to Sheffield City Region to seek Growth Fund money to assist with the acquisition and demolition.

(4)  That Full Council be recommended to approve inclusion of the scheme in the Capital Programme to cover the cost of acquisition and the demolition costs in respect of Forge Island.

(5)  That detailed development proposals and a delivery and implementation plan for the site to be prepared in tandem with the town centre masterplan.

(6)  That the Assistant Director of Legal Services be authorised to complete the  necessary legal documentation to purchase the site.