Rotherham Council sticks with £30m markets and library move

The scheme is double the forecast of £16.6 million when RMBC was successful in obtaining three-quarters of that amount from the government’s Future High Streets fund in 2021.

It was costed at £22.8 million when approved in 2022 but this has increased since – because of increased inflation – to £31.6 million. Final costs will be presented to cabinet in November. 

The project will see a major refurb of the markets, with new central food hub and flexible events space. It will also move the central library from Riverside House on Main Street to the same site, including a cafe, meeting rooms, gallery area and “maker’s space”.

RMBC says the markets area is under-used, with the current layout being a barrier – especially to the Rotherham College and residential properties east of the town centre.

On Monday (7), cabinet members voted to progress with enabling works to get the site prepared for the redevelopment. These are expected to start next month, with the main project following in 2024.

Cllr Denise Lelliott, cabinet member for jobs and the local economy, said: “People think that it might not go ahead or whatever because of inflation, budgetary pressures, but we are determined because it’s a key part of our masterplan.

“Having an updated market supporting businesses and a really exciting new library that will be modern and easily accessible is important to our redevelopment as a town.”

Council leader Cllr Chris Read added: “It’s worth noting how big a scheme this is for the town centre. We have talked a lot about Forge Island, and rightly so, but in terms of the cost of a scheme, this is the next biggest investment in the town centre at the moment.

“If we weren’t able to make these investments, the future of the markets is pretty bleak. That building will not last forever; it’s 50 years old now. You can’t continue to rely on buildings that have been there for that length of time.

“It also allows us to relocate the library back to somewhere more like where it always was intended to be in the first place.”

Twelve new locations were considered for the library, which saw a major drop-off in usage after its switch from the old civic site on Drummond Street.

Cllr Maggi Clark, the council’s chair of scrutiny, said: “I don’t think it’s any secret to any of us that moving the library to Riverside was a huge mistake in terms of footfall for the people of Rotherham when the interchange, the markets and everything else is at the other side of town.

“I find it ironic that we are actually taking the library back across the road from the original library I used to go to as a child. There was a children’s library downstairs and the adult library upstairs.

“I’m very pleased to see it going back in what I consider is a more appropriate place.”

An RMBC spokesperson said: “The increase is being funded mainly from other council budgets that were connected with the building of the new library.”