Rotherham Town Centre

Work is underway to revitalise the town centre, with a large focus on leisure, culture, events and recreation along with new housing developments and improved open spaces.

The town centre will be a vibrant, diverse, and thriving place, where people will bring their families, and come together to socialise, live and work. The new concept for the town centre is bold but realistic.

This new lease of life is already starting with the development of Forge Island, improvements to the look and feel of the town centre’s open spaces, and better housing.

The tram train is already operational, we will soon have a fantastic new cinema and there will be more great places to eat and drink.

All of this will be more accessible than ever to residents across the borough with improved cycle lanes, canal side walking routes, and cleaner vehicles and road infrastructure.

Work is underway for a £34 million housing project which will see over 170 homes across three sites in the town centre.

As the scope for town centre’s leisure, education and employment usage increases, we are keen to invest in social housing. Although there are many apartments for sale and rent in the town centre, there are relatively few houses or social housing.

Three sites in the town centre are being transformed from disused former industrial sites and will consist of a variety of property types to suit a mix of residents, from first-time buyers to downsizers, key workers to families.

A new cinema on Forge Island will offer a new market for the evening and weekend economy, particularly with students, families and workers moving into the new town centre homes. A modern hotel will attract visitors to the town centre.

Planning permission for the Forge Island site was submitted and approved in Spring and groundworks are currently underway by Eric Wright Civil Engineering. This includes work along the north and west boundaries near to the canal.

Retaining walls are being fitted, terrace seating is being devised and high-quality public spaces laid. A podium will be constructed on which the leisure hub will be elevated to reduce the risk of flooding.

A new pedestrian footbridge will also be built over the river to connect the site with the rest of the town centre.

But we can’t do all of this alone. Over the coming months and year, work will continue with partners who all share the same vision, drive and end goal.

We hope you will be part of this journey!