Revised plans for South Yorkshire business park

The company planning a "new community" of around 4,000 homes on a former mine and industrial site between Rotherham and Sheffield is seeking changes to an existing planning consent to accommodate a major Government Office Campus aimed at increasing employment diversity, attracting more jobs and boost the commercial and community appeal of the project.

In a joint venture with Yorkshire Forward, South Yorkshire-based UK COAL is already developing the 100-acre Advanced Manufacturing Park on the Waverley/Orgreave site and in August, submitted proposals for the development of a new 4,000 home community on the 740-acre site near Catcliffe.

Now as part of the changes in the overall Masterplan, UK COAL and joint venture partners Helical Governetz want to broaden the attraction of its Highfield Commercial project on the site by amending the plans to enable 60,000 square metres of office space to be built which will be targeted at Government occupiers and associated Business Support Organisations. The revised proposals have been submitted to Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council for consideration and approval.

Tim Love, Development Director for Harworth Estates, UK COAL’s property arm, says: "The revised proposals are more consistent with the high quality environment we are looking to achieve at Waverley and provide different functions of Government the opportunity to relocate to a dedicated campus which forms part of a much bigger regeneration project".

"The whole Waverley project has the potential to provide up to 6,000 new jobs , 4,000 homes, a Park and Ride and a country park. Everybody involved is focused on establishing a sustainable, mixed-use development which complements the strong urban renaissance programmes in Rotherham and Sheffield."

Mike Slade, Chief Executive of Helical Bar, commented: " Waverley offers a unique opportunity to relocate to one of the most dynamic regions of the UK. We want to ensure South Yorkshire continues to benefit from Government relocation and believe Waverley has all the ingredients which will attract them and provide a property offer which will enable Government to achieve efficiency savings and locate into highly sustainable, flexible office space."

The anticipated work on the Highfield Commercial site could commence next year when a planning decision is also expected on the new community plans submitted in August.

Once planning consents have been secured, it is expected the whole development will take around 20 years to complete.