Agenda item

Further to Minute No. 43(2) of the meeting of the Improving Places Select Commission held on 24th February, 2016, a presentation was made by the Economic Development Manager and by the Senior Planner about the draft Rotherham Town Centre Supplementary Planning Document. The contents of the presentation and the Select Commission’s subsequent discussion included the following salient features:-

•            Rotherham town centre renaissance programme - adopted in 2005;

•            Based around ten “Renaissance goals”

•            Progress made – as well as the need to review and refocus.

•            Concentration on the physical aspects of the Rotherham town centre and on the main development sites.

Definition of the Supplementary Planning Document

•           Reference point when developing proposals for the town centre

•           Material consideration for planning applications

•           Cannot conflict with Local Plan policies

The eight ‘key moves’

•           Development of a leisure hub on the Forge Island site

•           Key residential sites brought forward

•           Pedestrian “Gold Routes”

•           Improved gateways

•           Open up the Riverside

•           Support “Making and Trading”

•           Redevelop the Passenger Transport Interchange

•           Green Network

Gold Routes

•           Pedestrian routes reinforcing and connecting key sites through the Rotherham Town Centre;

•           ‘Stitch together’ the Town’s assets;

•           Investment in public realm and “wayfinding.”

•           Developments along proposed ‘Gold Routes’ contribute towards their successful delivery.

Town Centre Living

•           Residential occupation of the Town Centre will bring after-hours (evening) vitality.

•           Residents will live at the heart of a highly sustainable and walkable environment.

•           Residents will benefit from access to a facilities and services within easy walking distance.

Town Centre Developments

Identified the major development sites and their possible uses for the Town Centre (e.g.: Forge Island; Markets; Westgate Chambers; Rotherham Passenger Transport Interchange; sites suitable for residential development (e.g.: at Sheffield Road)).

Next Steps

•           Public Consultation on the Consultation Draft - April/May 2016;

•           Analysis of consultation responses - May/June 2016;

•           Final amendments to the document - June 2016;

•           Report to Cabinet regarding adoption of the Masterplan as a Supplementary Planning Document - July 2016;

•           Public Consultation takes place from 18 April until 16 May 2016;

•           More information is available via the consultation website: http://rotherham.limehouse.co.uk/portal

•           Comments can be fed back, to be taken into account when the final version of the document is produced.

Discussion points raised by Elected Members:-

:      seeking financial contributions from other organisations to relevant aspects of development (e.g.: Canals and Rivers Trust in respect of any water-side development);

:      the future of the Markets complex, which is in need of further investment;

:      development of sites which are currently unused and/or derelict;

:      Green energy possibilities (eg: using the weir adjacent to the Forge Island site);

:      the Council’s discussions with the Ministry of Justice about the future of the Magistrates’ Court building;

:      the possibility of residential development in around the Rotherham town centre;

:      the development of a Higher Skills Centre for the Rotherham College, located on the site off Doncaster Gate;

:      ways of ensuring that the owners and occupiers of town centre residential properties do not have to suffer noise nuisance;

:      progress after the Supplementary Planning Document has been formally adopted by the Council; the possibility of further private sector interest in development in the town centre;

:      scrutiny of the final version of the Supplementary Planning Document, prior to its approval by the Council;

:      the role and continuing meetings of the Council’s Major Projects Group, involving Elected Members and officers.

Resolved:- That the contents of the presentation about the Rotherham Town Centre Supplementary Planning Document be noted.