Agenda item

Report from the Executive Director of Regeneration and Environment.

Recommendations:

That Cabinet:

1.    Accepts the £11.35 million CRSTS funding from SYMCA to progress the Full Business Case for Rotherham Gateway Station.

2.    Grants approval to consult as necessary on the outputs of the Full Business Case as they are developed with the public and scheme stakeholders.

3.    Grants approval to allocate the funding as required within the CRSTS allocation.

4.    Delegates authority to the Executive Director for Regeneration and Environment in consultation with S151 Officer and the Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy to prepare the Full Business Case, undertake any actions as necessary including procurement, and then submit to SYMCA for assurance and approval.

5.    Delegates authority to the Service Director Property & Facilities Services (Property Officer) in consultation with the Service Director of Planning, Regeneration and Transport, Service Director, Legal Services, and Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy to make an order (if required) via compulsory purchase (Town and Country Planning Act or the Transport and Works Act) to acquire the necessary property interests for the Station.

6.    Delegates authority to the Service Director Property & Facilities Services (Property Officer) in consultation with the Service Director of Planning, Regeneration and Transport, Service Director Legal Services and Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy to take all steps, and enter into all documentation on behalf of the Council in connection with the making, confirmation, submission, and implementation of the above order, including in respect of any public inquiry, appeal or legal challenge concerning the same.

Consideration was given to the report which provided an update in relation to the Rotherham Gateway Station proposals. The Council was working with partners to promote the development of Rotherham Gateway Station. This mainline and tram-train station would be a catalyst for growth, improving local, regional, and national rail connectivity for all communities and businesses across the Borough, creating employment, and supporting the development of high-quality new homes.

An Outline Business Case (OBC) had been approved by South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), the Department for Transport (DfT) and Ministerial approval was received by the Council on 14 January 2026. This approval released funding of £11.35 million to the Council to develop a Full Business Case (FBC) for the scheme. The report recommended that Cabinet accept this funding to progress to Full Business Case with submission to SYMCA for assurance and approval of the Business Case.

To ensure the FBC could progress at pace, it also requested approval to allocate the funding as required and to undertake any actions as necessary to complete the FBC, such as procurement and contract award, design matters and liaison with partner organisations. Following completion, the report sought to delegate authority to the Executive Director of Regeneration and Environment, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy, for submission of the Full Business Case to SYMCA to approve funding to deliver the project in full.

The outputs of the Full Business Case would include:

·       Detailed design completed for the main line station, tram-train stop and floormat between them (including station building / business centre and provision for user-friendly multi-modal transport interchange).

·       Appointment of contractors and agreed delivery programme.

·       Timetable and economic benefits modelling updated.

·       Securing of train operator and service specifier commitments to stop train services at the new station.

·       Integrated transport strategy agreed and planned (e.g. integrated bus services to maximise station usage).

·       Cost plan interrogated and updated.

·       Delivery funding strategy and security of funding source in place.

·       Consents in place.

·       Environmental Impact Assessment.

·       Essential land acquisition complete.

The Full Business Case was a significant commitment for the Council, requiring dedicated project support which would have impacts across several Council services. The requirements for this were being scoped. A governance and management structure was being prepared to ensure appropriate resource was in place which included working with partner organisations including SYMCA. Where necessary the Council would secure appropriate external expertise to support the development of the FBC.

Resolved:

That Cabinet:

1.    Accepts the £11.35 million CRSTS funding from SYMCA to progress the Full Business Case for Rotherham Gateway Station.

2.    Grants approval to consult as necessary on the outputs of the Full Business Case as they are developed with the public and scheme stakeholders.

3.    Grants approval to allocate the funding as required within the CRSTS allocation.

4.    Delegates authority to the Executive Director for Regeneration and Environment in consultation with S151 Officer and the Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy to prepare the Full Business Case, undertake any actions as necessary including procurement, and then submit to SYMCA for assurance and approval.

5.    Delegates authority to the Service Director Property & Facilities Services (Property Officer) in consultation with the Service Director of Planning, Regeneration and Transport, Service Director, Legal Services, and Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy to make an order (if required) via compulsory purchase (Town and Country Planning Act or the Transport and Works Act) to acquire the necessary property interests for the Station.

6.    Delegates authority to the Service Director Property & Facilities Services (Property Officer) in consultation with the Service Director of Planning, Regeneration and Transport, Service Director Legal Services and Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy to take all steps, and enter into all documentation on behalf of the Council in connection with the making, confirmation, submission, and implementation of the above order, including in respect of any public inquiry, appeal or legal challenge concerning the same.