Agenda item

Report from the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment.

Recommendations:

That Cabinet:

1. Endorses the Rotherham Gateway Station (Mainline and Tram-Train) Masterplan, attached at Appendix 1.

2. Approves undertaking public engagement on the Masterplan in the autumn of 2025.

3.    Delegates authority to the Strategic Director for Regeneration and Environment in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy to prepare and submit a Strategic Programme Business Case for the Masterplan to South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA).

4. Authorises the Assistant Director of Property and Facilities Services to agree the acquisition of properties in exempt Appendix 2 in consultation with the Council’s Section 151 Officer, Strategic Director for Regeneration & Environment, Cabinet Member for Jobs & the Local Economy and the Cabinet Member for Finance and Community Safety.

5.    Approves the allocation of the Strategic Acquisitions Fund agreed at the March 2025 Budget Council to progress the acquisition of the sites as outlined in exempt Appendix 2, including potential holding costs that the Council may incur.

6.    Grants a Resolution in Principle to investigate the use of powers, under a Compulsory Purchase Order or Transport and Works Act Order.

Consideration was given to the report which presented the Rotherham Gateway Station Masterplan for endorsement. The Council was working with partners to promote the development of Rotherham Gateway Station. The mainline and tram-train station on Forge Way in the Parkgate area would be a catalyst for growth, improving local, regional, and national rail connectivity for all communities and businesses across the Borough, breaking down barriers, driving investment, attracting businesses, creating employment and supporting the development of high-quality new homes.

Rotherham Council secured £31.6m from the Town Deal programme (now

Pathfinder) in June 2021. £10 million from the funding was allocated to pursue

land acquisition for the proposed Station at Forge Way and for master planning the wider area of opportunity. The Council appointed Weston Williamson and Partners to prepare a Masterplan for the station in August 2022. London and Continental Railways (LCR) were appointed to assist officers in managing the creation of the Masterplan. The aim of the plan was to design the layout of the Station and tram-train interchange and determine land requirements for the scheme. It would also ensure good connectivity to the Town Centre and neighbouring communities such as Eastwood and take account of future opportunities such as the development of Bassingthorpe Farm.

Further Masterplan development explored how to maximise the benefit of the station investment and deliver a longer-term vision for the immediate site and wider regeneration opportunities. This provided a phase-by-phase approach and a twenty-year timescale for delivery. The completed Masterplan outlined the vision for the development of the station and the surrounding area and broke this down into phases, with a development potential totalling in the

region of £134m.

In order to progress the implementation of the Masterplan, there was a requirement to proceed with the negotiation and acquisition of relevant land and property. The report sought approval to progress these negotiations and allocate capital funding. The report also sought a Resolution in Principle to investigate use of powers to acquire by Compulsory Purchase or through use of a Transport and Works Act Order. In the event that it was not possible to acquire any or all of the properties by agreement, and the investigation into the use of Compulsory purchase powers indicated an acceptable likelihood of success, a further report would be submitted to Cabinet seeking formal resolution to acquire the property interests through use of Compulsory Purchase or Transport and Works Act powers. Details regarding land acquisitions were set out in paragraph 2.7 of the report and exempt Appendix 2.

Paragraph 2.8 of the report set out the Station Business Centre – Phase 1 – additional project while paragraph 2.9 outlined the Effingham Street Active Travel Route – Phase 1 – additional project.

To progress the Masterplan, the Council proposed the preparation of a Programme Business Case covering the four Masterplan phases, the land acquisition and the priority projects coming out of the Masterplan. This would be a ‘high-level’, strategic Business Case that highlighted the priorities to SYMCA, with a view to securing development funding to further progress the

projects through the Business Case gateways.

In February 2025, the Rotherham Gateway Station Outline Business Case

(OBC) was submitted to SYMCA and the Department for Transport for

assurance and approval to release £11.35 million for Full Business Case

development, approval of which would lead to the delivery of the station. A

decision on the OBC was due in the autumn of 2025.

Cabinet Members and Senior Officers were fully supportive of the proposals and looked forward to the opportunities for the Rotherham borough that would be forthcoming as a result of Rotherham Gateway Station.

Resolved:

That Cabinet:

1.    Endorse the Rotherham Gateway Station (Mainline and Tram-Train) Masterplan, attached at Appendix 1.

2.    Approve undertaking public engagement on the Masterplan in the autumn of 2025.

3.    Delegate authority to the Strategic Director for Regeneration and Environment in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy to prepare and submit a Strategic Programme Business Case for the Masterplan to South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA).

4.    Authorise the Assistant Director of Property and Facilities Services to agree the acquisition of properties in exempt Appendix 2 in consultation with the Council’s Section 151 Officer, Strategic Director for Regeneration & Environment, Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs & the Local Economy and the Cabinet Member for Finance and Community Safety.

5.    Approves the allocation of the Strategic Acquisitions Fund agreed at the March 2025 Budget Council to progress the acquisition of the sites as outlined in exempt Appendix 2, including potential holding costs that the Council may incur.

6.    Grants a Resolution in Principle to investigate the use of powers, under a Compulsory Purchase Order or Transport and Works Act Order.