Around £50 million worth of investment in the borough will move a step closer when Rotherham Council’s Cabinet meets on Monday 7 August, 2023.
Cabinet members will be asked to approve the funds for improvements to Rother Valley Country and Thrybergh Country Parks, as well as Dinnington Town Centre.
Nearly £11m will be committed to the scheme to improve Dinnington. The improvements will include improvements to the outdoor market and the creation of a new commercial square to enhance the retail, food and beverage offer in the town and improve public realm and connectivity.
At the same time, Councillors will be asked to approve £8m funding for projects at Rother Valley Country Park and Thrybergh Country Park.
At Rother Valley, £5.5m will be provided for a new waterfront café with both indoor and outdoor seating with a first-floor events space. Improvements to parking facilities and a relocated cycle hub will be complemented by a high-quality landscaping scheme including a new play area.
A £2.5m scheme at Thrybergh Country Park will also see visitors benefiting from a new destination waterside café, alongside improved public realm, and visitor facilities.
Both park projects are part of a £20m investment in leisure economy and skills in Rotherham. Other leisure attractions receiving improvements include Gullivers, Wentworth Woodhouse, Magna and Maltby Skills Academy.
Meanwhile, Cabinet members are being asked to approve a contract tender and start of enabling works for Rotherham Town Centre’s Markets & Central Library development. If approved, the enabling works are expected to start in September, with the main development works expected to commence in 2024.
Plans for the £30m markets and library development include a brand-new markets space, a new town centre library, a community space, and extensive public realm improvements.
Rotherham Council’s Leader Councillor Chris Read said: “We remain determined to secure investment to improve the future of Rotherham and ensure that money delivers improvements for our residents.
“These schemes cover locations right across our borough; improving our country parks and our urban centres, creating job opportunities and improving the local environment, so that even in these difficult times we can plan for better times ahead.”
The news follows last month’s Cabinet commitment of around £9m to improve Wath Town Centre, which included creation of new library with inclusive community facility and commercial space, a better walkway between Biscay Way and the High Street, to encourage more visitors and improvements to nearby public spaces.
Funding for the Dinnington & Wath and Leisure Economy & Skills schemes has been secured by Rotherham Council through the Government’s Levelling Up Capital Grant.
The markets re-development is being funded by Rotherham Council, Future High Street Fund and South Yorkshire Mayor Combined Authority grant funding.