Rotherham The Unofficial Website

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The Guest & Chrimes Site

The site of the old Guest & Chrimes Brassworks off Don Street, just out of Rotherham Centre, has been a bone of contention for some years. When plans for extending Supertram from Meadowhall to Rotherham were still being mooted the route would have passed through this site. Central government finally kiboshed this on the grounds of unjustifiable cost. Tesco wanted to redevelop the site for a new store but was refused planning permission as it was deemed to be an unsuitable out of town development (all of five minutes walk from the present store). Despite spending a lot of money taking it to appeal Tescos still lost.

The clearance of buildings (but not the listed ones) began in July and an outline planning application was submitted at the end of September 2007. I don't think this says very much but I understand that the intention is to build new council offices to replace all the existing ones, including the Town Hall, on part of the site opposite the Police Station. Limited car parking space (obviously for the councillors and big nobs) will be provided. I am told that the current building design is naff.

A new access road and a new bridge over the Don to join up with Sheffield Road and Westgate are to be built and form an integrated road system. At the end of September 2007 Rotherham College of Art & Technology have decided that they will not move to this site.

Another part of the site including the listed buildings is to be redeveloped as offices and small units for rent, whilst a business park is mooted for the rest. At some point it seems likely that the old Gloystarne warehouse area will be included in the redevelopment.

As far as I can determine Phase Two of the Flood Alleviation Scheme is due to come through here some time soon.

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