Theme park plan expected to move nearer

Some 250 acres of the Pithouse West site will be sold by Rotherham Borough Council to family firm Gulliver’s.

The holiday resort, next to Rother Valley Country Park, is also planned to include an adventure centre, camping, woodland lodges and a hotel.

Gulliver’s was the sole bidder when the site was put back up for sale after the Visions of China plan fell through in 2014.

The proposed park, called Gulliver’s Valley, would bring up to 255 jobs — plus another 120 in construction.

Building work had been expected to start this year but there was a delay after some potential ground contamination was identified. This was the reason for Gulliver’s reducing the size of the park from 330 acres.

RMBC reckons the completed park will benefit the Rotherham economy by £11.6 million a year.

Council senior project officer Lucy Mitchell added: “The adjacent Rother Valley Country Park site will benefit, in the form of a complementary offer, additional visitor numbers and short stay benefits.

“Gulliver’s undertook a series of public consultation events in October 2015, some of which were located close to the Pithouse West site in both Aston and Wales, whilst others took place in Rotherham town centre and Beighton, Sheffield.

“These public consultation events were well attended with over 1,200 people giving their views on the proposals.

“Considerable support for the development was expressed by the public. However, people living in closer proximity to the site raised concerns primarily regarding the potential traffic and noise impacts that may arise.

“These issues will of course be considered as part of the necessary planning application process.”

The theme park would be aimed at two to 13-year-olds, with themed areas around a fairytale castle.

Later phases would add camping, a caravan site, woodland outdoor adventure centre, 100-bed hotel and 300 woodland lodges forming a “dream village” for seriously and terminally-ill children.

Gulliver’s has been running entertainment developments for 39 years, with parks in Matlock, Warrington and Milton Keynes.

Before Visions of China, the site was set to become the YES! Project until the council pulled the plug in 2011. Both sale agreements were ripped up because they could not secure the required capital investment.

Council commissioner Julie Kenny will be asked to agree the land deal with Gulliver’s at the Cabinet meeting on Thursday.