Rotherham to receive £40m 'Levelling Up' cash, Government budget confirms

About £19.5 million will help continue the regeneration of Rotherham town centre, adding to money already obtained through other government funds.

Elsewhere, there will be a new cafe for Thrybergh Country Park, fresh exhibitions for Magna, a “village centre” within Rother Valley Country Park, and improved stables at Wentworth Woodhouse.

Bridging the gap between school and employment, Maltby Academy Trust will invest in the redevelopment of the former Maltby Grammar School to create an “incubator space”.

This will be used for training, apprenticeships, and start-up support in the leisure and hospitality sectors.

There will also be a “skills village” added to Gulliver’s Valley theme park, also focusing on training, development, and accreditation within the same sectors.

Rotherham Council leader Cllr Chris Read said: “We very much welcome the news in the budget that two of the three Levelling Up Fund bids from Rotherham Council are to be supported by the Government, supporting our agenda to build a better borough.

“We continue to wait for formal government advice in relation to these bids, and also our third bid which would have supported improvements in Dinnington and Wath, but which was not included in the chancellor’s announcement.”

Rother Valley MP Alexander Stafford said: “It’s great that this Government is investing in Rother Valley, for too long our area has been neglected. 

“I will always fight for every penny for our area, so I am pleased that this is beginning to pay off, but this is only the first step, and I hope that there will be more good news for other parts of Rother Valley soon.”

The council has the opportunity to bid again on unsuccessful outcomes in later rounds.