New look for All Saints' site

Rotherham Borough Council will enhance the area outside the Imperial Buildings on Church Street with paving and other materials left over from other projects.

The investment in the site, which is on the edge of the proposed Minster Gardens park, is expected to involve creating seating and events space for traders in the building.

A report to councillors said: “After the demolition of the former All Saints’ Buildings, the council committed to providing a high quality public realm scheme, which not only covered the footprint of the demolished building but addressed the surrounding roads.

“Officers have now secured funding to create a new public open space on the site of the former building.

“This scheme is to be known as Minster Gardens.

“Also ongoing at this time is the redevelopment of Minster Yard.

“This scheme includes the restoration of footpaths, new seating, lighting of the Minster and the creation of a new stepped access from Church Street and is due for completion in December, 2010.

“Between these two new pieces of public realm and immediately adjacent to the recently refurbished Imperial Buildings is a piece of important space which has suffered from lack of investment and maintenance.

“The space includes two trees and three hexagonal seats, probably dating from the 1970s.”

The report said that the Yorkshire-stone paved area could be revived with more investment.

It added: “Several areas have been severely damaged by traffic during the restoration schemes as part of the wider Rotherham Renaissance.

“It is, therefore, vitally important that this space is improved to reflect the quality of the other two spaces and to ensure the connectivity with High Street.

“Initial thoughts for the usage of the space includes, external event space for the artists and occupiers of Imperial Buildings and a dedicated café seating area with views over Minster Yard and Minster Gardens.

“Officers from RiDO and Streetpride have been proactive in finding an affordable solution for this area. Currently the Council Highways Depot is relocating from Greasbrough Road to Hellaby.

“This move together with limited storage space at the new depot has resulted in a significant amount of paving materials which would be ideally suited to the Conservation Area becoming available.

“The materials are generally left over from similar funded schemes, second hand products and other surplus to requirements, including natural stone paving, setts and kerbs, steel bollards, etc.

“Officers have earmarked all suitable materials for the project and these will be available free, provided that the physical work on site is carried out by the Streetpride Team.”

The council’s Landscape Design Team is expected to draw up initial plans for a scheme using new and existing materials.