Fashion designer Wayne Hemingway MBE shares Rotherham regen ideas

(left to right) Cllr Sarah Allen, Dominic Summer, We Great Place Wentworth and Elsecar; Cllr Denise Lelliott, Rachel Blake, We Great Places Wentwoth and Elsecar and Wayne Hemingway

The invitation-only event took place in the stately home’s Long Gallery on Tuesday night, led by Wayne Hemingway MBE.

The co-founder of Red or Dead and HemingwayDesign - which specialises in affordable and social design projects - presented his past successes to guests including councillors, businesspeople and arts organisations.

He then turned his sights on Rotherham, pointing out potential in old buildings and street furniture, market management and green spaces.

Mr Hemingway urged planners to make better use of the borough’s creative minds, allowing grassroots regeneration in “shabby places,” as has happened in Berlin.

And he encouraged more inventive use of the town centre’s historic buildings, such as the Imperial Building and Old Town Hall.

But Mr Hemingway - who opened dozens of outlets with wife and business partner Gerardine weeks after moving to London in the 1980s - warned that retail was not the answer and that planners must find the town’s “DNA”.

There followed a brainstorming session, when groups of attendees presented their ideas for transforming the town centre.

Suggestions included a green corridor from award-winning Clifton Park to Forge Island and a multi-generational creators’ space in the former Primark premises on High Street.

Another group suggested “the mother of all community kitchens”, hosting cooks of many communities supplying affordable meals to workers and students.

Other plans put looked-after children at the forefront, making Rotherham a national pioneer by encouraging them to be involved in arts and enterprise.

The session came about after a chance conversation between Polly Hamilton, assistant director of culture, sport and tourism, and businessman Chris Hamby, who also attended.