Rotherham's Pocket Park plans suffer further delays

An original target for completion of the multi-million pound green space of September 2021 was put back to spring 2022.

Now the date has drifted further into the year. Rotherham Council wants the project done in time for the town hosting Women’s Euros matches in July.

A report to scrutiny board said the new target date was June.

Council leader Cllr Chris Read said: “The pocket park is affected by market conditions and discussions with the contractor.

“There is a real pattern across the capital schemes of escalating costs, the general situation with the labour force and all the rest of it.

“It’s impacting on delivering on some of these schemes but we will not be alone in that, I’m sure.”

Primark closed the store in 2017 and the site was bought by RMBC three years later.

Other schemes budgeted for last year have also been affected by similar delays, including the new Century business centre at Manvers.

Cllr Read said: “A piece of work has been done, just ensuring that the design of that building still is what is required, in light of changing work behaviours and a further cost exercise has been undertaken because there were escalating costs relating to that.”

Work is expected to start on the Manvers project next month.