Evans development will spur regeneration plan
PROPERTY group Evans has put forward ambitious plans to develop a new civic centre in Rotherham which is said to be one of the most significant public sector property transactions outside of London in the last year.
Evans Regeneration Investments plans to develop new council civic accommodation in Rotherham as part of the £2bn renaissance plan to regenerate the heart of the town centre.
The purpose-built 172,000 sq ft office building, proposed for the former Guest & Chrimes site, is a major step forward for the £2bn Renaissance plan to regenerate the heart of Rotherham town centre.
Managing director of Leeds-based Evans, John Bell said: “The proposals are significant for Rotherham town centre. Regenerating this site, which is at the moment unused, opens up further opportunities for redevelopment and investment into the town centre.
“It also provides the town centre with a modern building, improving services to Rotherham people, the working environment for thousands of borough council staff and it’s a clear indication of the council’s continued commitment to the regeneration of the town centre.”
The council appointed Evans as chosen developer in association with Carey Jones Architects of Leeds to oversee the development of the multi-million pound new civic accommodation.
The former industrial site has already been cleared and decontaminated ready to start building the contemporary six-floor development with 172 car parking spaces.
The exterior will incorporate sandstone similar to Rotherham Red and brass metal work to reflect the history of the borough and the site – a former brass foundry where the first screw-up-screw-down tap was invented, marking a significant start for the water industry.
Environmentally the building is looking to achieve a ‘very good’ or “excellent” rating by BREEAM – the internationally recognised Building Research Environmental Assessment Method Consultancy. That is the highest rating that can be awarded. It is also hoped that there will be more than 10% renewable energy on site.
At a meeting of Rotherham Borough Council’s planning board yesterday members said they were disposed to grant the application.
The application now has to be referred to the Government Office for Yorkshire and the Humber, which has 21 days to decide whether to intervene or allow the local authority to make the final decision.
Subject to that decision, Evans plans to start on site in the autumn of this year with the anticipated completion of the building in late 2011 or early 2012.
