MULTI-million pound plans for flats on the old town centre Primark site could include a pocket park fronting High Street.
Rotherham Council is bidding for funding through Sheffield City Region to redevelop the land with 30 apartments.
But stage one of the project is set to be the demolition of the current 42,885sq ft building and create a green space — like a mini-Minster Gardens.
This would widen the access to Snail Hill, which leads up towards the Crofts and town hall.
Part two of the project would be to add the apartments towards the rear of the site, meaning most of the green space would remain.
It is estimated that the total cost would be about £3 million.
Primark moved to the former BHS unit at Parkgate Shopping in late 2017, saying the extra 10,000 sq ft floorspace would improve its offer to customers.
Footfall dropped 40 per cent on High Street in the months after the switch, council figures later showed.
The drive for more town centre living is being led by RMBC building 171 properties across Westgate, Sheffield Road and at the old Henley’s garage site, for which the authority ignored its own planning guidelines with regard to encroachment on 17th century Wellgate Old Hall.