‘Activity hub’ plans for region’s largest brownfield development

The community being created at Waverley in Rotherham, the region’s largest-ever brownfield redevelopment, is set to become a trailblazing hub of physical activity through a partnership between Sheffield Hallam University and Harworth Group.

Backed by a funding boost of almost £30,000 from Innovate UK, a team of experts from across the university are working with the Harworth Group to incorporate physical activity opportunities for those living and working at the flagship development.

Harworth is delivering a new community of 3,890 homes alongside building out further space at the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) – home to world-class institutions including the University of Sheffield, Rolls-Royce and Boeing.

Academics with backgrounds in sport and health will team up with Harworth’s developers to design an ‘active environment’ at Waverley. The project, which has been part-funded by Harworth and the university, will take ideas put forward during workshops with residents and employees exploring how space and facilities around the site can be used to help people to become more active.

Professor Steve Haake, director of Sheffield Hallam’s AWRC, said: “This project is about creating new environments which are inherently physically active and in doing so, we are starting to make a positive impact on one of the key challenges of modern society. This contributes to the aims of the AWRC and the wider city region.

“The property development market currently lacks innovation or focus on physical activity which makes this a really exciting opportunity. In partnership with Harworth, the project will make Waverley an exemplar for how development can be undertaken to enhance wider social and economic benefits. If we get this right, then the quality of life of the residents and workers on the site will improve, as will the development of the site itself.  Developers across the country could look to this in years to come as the first site where physical activity has been integrated into a development like this.”

Duncan Armstrong-Payne, associate director of major projects at Harworth Group, said: “A key part of Waverley’s ongoing development is creating quality open spaces and leisure facilities to meet the increasing needs of those living there or working at the AMP.

“This is a really exciting partnership and I’m looking forward to seeing what we can deliver.”