£300 million Meadowhall extension set for approval despite Rotherham town centre concerns

PLANS for a proposed £300 million extension to the Meadowhall shopping centre are due to be approved next week — despite Rotherham Borough Council formally objecting.
An artist's impression of what the extension would look likeAn artist's impression of what the extension would look like
An artist's impression of what the extension would look like

Sheffield City Council’s planning board will discuss the application, which includes a cinema, restaurants, bars, gym, and bowling alley under a glazed roof at a meeting on Tuesday.

Rotherham council bosses claim the impact would have a “significant adverse impact upon the vitality and viability of Rotherham town centre”.

But applicant British Land insist it would not have any “unacceptable trading effects”.

The plans were amended to remove a proposal for a good store and impose restrictions  to limit the new retail space and the conversion of previous leisure space.

Significant transport investments will also be carried out, if approved.

Rotherham planners are also concerned for the proposed £43 million leisure development at Forge Island which will include a cinema and hotel.

But a report to the planning board said: “Given its poor starting position a small impact is likely to be more critical. The poor state of health of the existing centre is a consequence of development already permitted at Meadowhall and Parkgate Retail Park, the effects of which will already have been felt. 

“Given this, the relatively small impact of the proposal, and the different retail offer of the two centres, it is judged that the level of impact on Rotherham town centre is not sufficient to be considered to be significantly adverse which is the planning test for refusing permission.”