Sheffield launches Rotherham jobs grab: VOTE

Developers announced last year their intention to provide 60,000 sq m of office space for public sector workers as part of the massive Waverley scheme on the Rotherham-Sheffield border, which could also involve almost 4,000 homes, a park and ride scheme and two schools.

But it has emerged that Sheffield councillors will be urged next week to formally object to the office plans on the grounds that they are against national and regional policies and plenty of alternative sites are available in Sheffield city centre.

That could lead the Government to call a public inquiry and throw into doubt the future of one of the key aspects of the UK Coal-led scheme.

It would not be the first time Rotherham’s ambitions have been set back by its neighbours’ objections.

Five years ago, plans for a West End-style theatre, a bowling alley and a new cinema at the YES! Project in the Rother Valley were scrapped after Sheffield Council argued that they would damage the prospects of its city centre.

And hopes of a cinema being built at the Waterfront site in Manvers were also dashed after Barnsley and Doncaster Councils objected.

A planning report on the Waverley scheme, which is due to be presented to a special meeting of Sheffield Council’s south and east area planning board next Wednesday, describes parts of the application as “seriously flawed.”

It continues: “There is no strong case that the government office space that would be accommodated here could not also be accommodated on a number of city or town centre sites be it that the development might need to be on a different format. 

“There are sites within Sheffield city centre, as well as one in Rotherham town centre, that could accommodate this development.

“Indeed, a number of government departments have already been accommodated in Sheffield city centre.

“If an out-of-centre office development of this scale, accommodating public sector offices were to be approved, I believe it would be very difficult to ignore private sector pressure for similar developments. 

“The public sector should be setting an example and supporting its own policy for major in-centre office development.”

The office plan, drawn up by Helical Governetz under the name Highfield Commercial, was branded by planning officers as a “speculative out-of-centre office development, which is contrary to national and regional planning policies.”

Estimates that up 4,900 people could be accommodated on the site were also described as “generous”, with the report adding: “Just over 3,000 would be more realistic, based on recent experience in Sheffield.”

Plans for a 4,000 sq m, 120-bed hotel on the Waverley site were also criticised, with the report noting: “Whatever the hotel standard, an over-supply of hotels may reduce the viability of existing and proposed hotels in the city centre.”

The report recommends that Sheffield Council support the Waverley scheme in general but says that it should formally object to the government office plans and call on Rotherham councillors to reject them.

Rotherham Borough Council’s planning board will discuss the office plans and the overall Waverley application at a special meeting on Monday, February 25.