Waverley New Town

[AdamBlade]

For sure joz

[AdamBlade]

Our new Waverley website is now live. Let me know your thoughts.

www.waverleycommunity.co.uk

[Steel City Suburb]

looks brill!

[Rothbiz]

looks good. the "community of opportunity" tagline is nice. The sections work really well and it seems really accessible. I like the "What are people saying?" page too.

[lewisskinner]

Originally Posted by Rothbiz

I like the "What are people saying?" page too.

Even though some of them seem incapable of speaking/writing coherent English!

I still wish that this had the tram/tram/bus interchange. Maybe when the tram-trains trial are a success and we run them to Rotherham, Waverley will get a stop?

[Rothbiz]

They'll be an interchange between the commercial and residential areas but it looks like it'll be BRT all the way. I guess it's success rests on the proposed park & ride (a seperate planning app is expected). Without a p & r there wouldn't be the frequency of services going through to Sheffield and Rotherham.

[Rothbiz]

Revised plans for Waverley submitted

Revised plans have been submitted for the Waverley New Community in Rotherham. The 741 acre brownfield site, owned by UK COAL, covers an area bigger than Sheffield city centre and will be transformed into a bustling town of 9,000 people.

UK COAL's property arm, Harworth Estates submitted an outline planning application to Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council in August 2008 for a sustainable, high density, mixed use community, including 3890 houses, community facilities and green areas.

Following the submission of the original planning application, the masterplan has been revised through a series of monthly workshops with RMBC officers as well as through the RMBC Steering Group, RMBC Design Panel and various meetings with ATLAS - the Housing and Communities Agency's large application advisors to ensure that the scheme addresses a wide range of issues.

As a consequence revisions to the planning application were submitted to the Council in October 2009.

Changes made to the multi-million pound scheme include design improvements, inclusion of allotments and modifications to the transport interchange. Live / work units are now incorporated and new documents have also been submitted as part of the scheme.

The revised proposals will be on public display for information and comment in the AMP Technology Centre from 12 noon to 8pm on Monday November 23 2009.

http://www.rothbiz.co.uk/2009/11/new...-waverley.html

[Steel City Suburb]

I'd like the design of some of the homes to be like the Scheepstimmermanstraat in Holland. Very nice modern riverside apartments.

[Rothbiz]

There's also a new fly-through video on the Waverley Community website at

http://www.waverleycommunity.org/

[Steel City Suburb]

The AMP - MAJOR news.

It has been selected for Nuclear research. Possibly bringing the Sheffield & Region economy £1billion a year. It will first employ 500 people, then will grown.

[sheff89]

News Item;

Business Secretary Lord Mandelson announces £25 million Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (NAMRC) led by the University of Sheffield with Rolls-Royce

Business Secretary Lord Mandelson today provided a major boost for the UK’s civil nuclear industry with a package of announcements to help British businesses seize the opportunities this growth sector presents.

Speaking at the University of Sheffield’s award-winning Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) he announced:

> A new Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (NAMRC) to be based in South Yorkshire alongside the AMRC, led by the University of Sheffield with Rolls-Royce as the lead industrial partner.

> Rolls-Royce’s intention in principle to base their civil nuclear factory in South Yorkshire. This factory is part of an investment programme that Rolls-Royce announced on 28 July 2009, which included £45m of investment from the Government.

> A Nuclear Low Carbon Economic Area (LCEA) for both Yorkshire and the Northwest, led by both regional development agencies. UK companies have the potential to provide up to 70% of the work on construction of components for new nuclear power plants, and the LCEA will support the development of UK capability to win this business.

The new £25 million Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (NAMRC) led by the University of Sheffield with Rolls-Royce will be based at the Advanced Manufacturing Park. Funding for the project comprises £15million from the Department of Business, Industry and Skills and £10m from the regional development agency, Yorkshire Forward.

It is the intention of Rolls-Royce that the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre will be a centre of excellence for research and development of advanced manufacturing technologies that will deliver step change, lower cost, high-integrity components to the UK nuclear industry.

The NAMRC will form part of its existing, international research centre network, and will complement the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) in Sheffield. The announcement further consolidates the University of Sheffield’s outstanding international reputation as home to one of the UK’s leading Faculties of Engineering, with an outstanding record of partnership with industry and job creation. Low carbon energy is one of the University’s key research themes, from nuclear to new forms of solar energy.

Speaking to assembled industrialists, regional dignitaries and journalists, Lord Mandelson said:

“We know that we have to make the transition to a low carbon future, and the Government is determined to ensure that British businesses get the support they need to seize the business opportunities that transition creates. The civil nuclear sector is one of the key low carbon industries where the UK has the potential for job creation, economic growth and engineering and manufacturing excellence. Today’s announcement is about investing in our future. A greener, smarter, more skilled, more balanced British economy.”

The NAMRC will be led by the University of Sheffield with Rolls-Royce, supported by the University of Manchester. It is expected to draw together some 30 partner high-tech manufacturing suppliers who are committed to meeting UK demand and playing a significant part in global markets through the production of high-value, low-volume systems and components in a competitive manner. The goal is to re-develop and re-energise an internationally recognised UK supply chain, with globally relevant and competitive capabilities. Support for training, simulation and modelling will be provided by the National Metals Technology Centre (NAMTEC).

According to Professor Keith Ridgway, Programme Director for the NAMRC and founder of the original Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre:

“The UK Government and major industrial players such as Rolls-Royce recognise that the long time lag since the last domestic nuclear plant was built poses challenges to UK-based businesses seeking to take advantage of global nuclear supply chain opportunities, as many companies have not maintained or developed their expertise as nuclear equipment suppliers. In particular, UK-based firms need to understand both the opportunities and the requirements of supplying goods and services to the nuclear industry.

“The mantra developed for the aerospace industry of ‘better, faster, cheaper’ greener is equally applicable to the resurgent nuclear supply industry. We are confident that the success of the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre which has worked so closely with global aerospace companies such as Boeing and Rolls-Royce can be translated into the nuclear industry which is so crucial to our energy sustainability.”

Summarising the impact of the announcement for the regional economy, Chief Executive of Yorkshire Forward Tom Riordan commented:

“This announcement is incredible news. It recognises the cutting edge facilities and the top quality of our academic and business skills base. The UK's nuclear programme is expected to create over 4,500 engineering jobs over the next 25 years and more than a £1bn a year to the industry. This investment, and others like it, puts the region at the very heart of the UK’s energy sector and cements our position as a centre of excellence for manufacturing, to a global marketplace.”

[GeorgeGriffiths]

Is the new town and the nuclear manufacturing plant going ahead, then? Because I've seen no action as of late.

[RichJay]

Originally Posted by GeorgeGriffiths

Is the new town and the nuclear manufacturing plant going ahead, then? Because I've seen no action as of late.

The nuclear manufacturing research centre was only announced last week.

[GeorgeGriffiths]

Okay, them, is Waverley going ahead, then?!

[AdamBlade]

Yes for sure. Hopefully approval in the new year, there'll be a prog of dev for you to follow.

[lewisskinner]

Listen to Adam - he works for Harworth Estates

[Rothbiz]

Sheffield could object to Rotherham office development

Members of Sheffield Council's planning board have been recommended to object to Helical Governetz's application for a proposed 60,000 sq m government office campus at Waverley in Rotherham.

Utilising 38 acres of land between the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) and the Waverley Community development, the campus is expected to provide office space for 2,000 employees.

Helical Bar plc, Governetz Ltd and Haworth Estates (UK Coal) are working together with the intention to provide high specification offices for government departments in response to the desire to move activities out of central London and into the regions.

In report by Les Sturch, Director of Development Services at Sheffield Council, he recommends that members of Sheffield's planning board "object to, and call on Rotherham MBC to refuse planning permission for the Helical Governetz's application for 60,000sq m of business development at Highfield Commercial on the grounds that alternative, more sustainable locations exist in Sheffield/Rotherham that better meet Government guidance for significant "town centre" development such as this."

The report states that proposed schemes in Sheffield such as the plans for the River Don District near Meadowhall, and sites in the city centre can meet the need for relocating government departments and that the public sector should be setting an example and supporting its own policy for major in-centre office development.

The report advocates that as the transport interchange for the Waverley site is only proposed, the offices cannot yet be described as edge-of-centre and that the development should be considered speculative as no specific occupier has signed up.

The report also states that the estimate on the number of jobs that would be created is "generous" and that the economic and employment benefits are contrary to planning policies.

Two sites in Sheffield city centre are offered that could house a hotel and states that the proposed 120 room hotel adjacent to the offices is too big to be considered ancillary. It states that "an over supply of hotels may reduce the viability of existing and proposed hotels in the city centre."

The office campus is alongside the larger Waverley Community, described as South Yorkshire's largest ever brownfield development creating a new 4,000 home community across 741 acres, an area bigger than Sheffield city centre.

UK COAL's property arm, Harworth Estates submitted an outline planning application to Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council in August 2008 for a sustainable, high density, mixed use community, including 3890 houses, community facilities and green areas.

Both outline planning applications for the proposed office campus and the Waverley development are due to be discussed by the planning board of Rotherham Council on January 25.

http://www.rothbiz.co.uk/2010/01/new...object-to.html

[TakeMeHigher]

I have to agree with Les here. Waverley has yet to demonstrate any convincing outward sustainability case and any development that would derogate the regional centres must be subject to a rigorous sequential testing to prove the business case for priority.

[Rothbiz]

Rotherham planners back Waverley proposals

The outline planning applications for two major parts of the massive redevlopment of Waverley in Rotherham have been recommended for approval.

The application for South Yorkshire's largest ever brownfield development creating a new 4,000 home community across 741 acres from UK COAL's property arm, Harworth Estates, and the application for a proposed government office campus from Helical Governetz are set to go before the planning board of Rotherham Council on January 25.

A report from Rotherham planners indicates that the Waverley outline application is recommended to be referred to the Secretary of State as it departs from the Unitary Development Plan as some land set for employment is to be used for housing. If the Secretary decides not to intervene, RMBC planners recommend that the planning permission is granted.

If granted, there are 25 parts to a section 106 agreement attached to ensure that the local area benefits from the development. These range from providing £11m for two primary schools and other financial contributions for new facilities such as playing pitches and a new link road. 21% of the 3890 houses need to be affordable.

There are also 51 conditions attached to the planning permission which cover usage, phasing, design, drainage, energy, transport and landscaping.

The report concludes: "The proposals, whilst not in accordance with the current UDP are generally in accordance with Regional and National policies and where they are not, reasoned justification has been given." The amount, and type, of housing it will create is given as the main reason for approval as well as the new services and facilities, the fact that a former colliery is being developed and the benefits secured through the section 106.

The Helical Governetz outline application for 60,000 sq m government office campus is also recommended for approval.

There is another section 106 agreement which mainly covers transport linked to a new interchange or money for other public transport and links to the proposed park & ride that needs to be developed before offices are fully occupied. A strategy also has to be submitted to enable local people to access subsequent job opportunities arising from the development.

There are also 50 conditions attached with the first stating that the first occupiers must be users wholly engaged in the provision of regional authority and government services and/or national government services. Another states that the transport interchange is in operation prior to the occupation of more than 10,000 sq ft of office space. Other conditions cover usage phasing, design, drainage, energy, transport and landscaping.

The report states that "the development accords to the Regional Spatial Strategy and national policy. The Applicant has demonstrated that the proposed development is of an appropriate scale; that no other sites are available. The development will not have a detrimental impact on town and city centres and that the site is accessible by public transport."

The objections from Sheffield Council are detailed, as are "serious concerns" from Creative Sheffield - they consider that the development will undermine Sheffield’s attempts to transform its city centre.

The developers have even assessed the Meadowhall site that Sheffield put forward as an alternative and shown why Waverley is in fact preferable.

The report concludes that "it is considered that the applicant has adequately demonstrated that there is a quantitative and qualitative need for the development, not least because there is insufficient Grade A floorspace available in any of the four towns and cities in South Yorkshire, but also because the proposals have an end user in mind."

The two proposals are expected to create over 7,000 jobs with a development phase of over 20 years.

http://www.rothbiz.co.uk/2010/01/new...ners-back.html

[High Ho]

http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/Backin...ess.6001056.jp

Yet another great decision by the glorious planning board. I find it hard to believe that the Chair of the Planning Board does not understand why he is being asked to comment on an application by a neighbouring authority. Either he does not understand his roll or his officers have not briefed him well enough. Suppose there was a nuclear power station on this site - I'm sure he would be happy to let it pass!

The office element of this proposal, having read the paper, is so contrary to Planning Policy it is a sham that RMBC let alone Sheffield are letting it go through. But thats demoncracy for you and both Rotherham Town Centre and Sheffield City Centre may end up paying for it.

Next application from Haworth Estates - variation to allow any office occupier on the site as no interest from a Government Dept.