Regeneration scheme lets foundry forge a new role

Rotherham Council granted planning approval for the development of five industrial units with associated office space totalling 196,030sq ft, 270 car parking spaces, three offices totalling 37,500sq ft, a 60-bed hotel, pub and restaurant

The 15-acre site in Woodhouse Mill to the east of Sheffield, was occupied by Laycast until the organisation's operations closed in 2006.

The company was put out of business by massive electricity price rises eight years after the completion of a multi-million pound investment in equipment which created one of the most advanced foundries in Europe.

Developer JF Finnegan established a joint venture partnership with site owners AF Europe in 2007 and the empty buildings were subsequently demolished during 2008. The new development is intended to generate employment opportunities for the locality and to breathe new life in to the redundant site.

JF Finnegan will undertake the remediation works to prepare the land for development, which is expected to take until the end of 2010, and said it could have buildings operational on site in mid-2011.

Nick Gillott, design and build manager for JF Finnegan, said: "The planning approval has facilitated the redevelopment of one of the most strategic sites in the area.

"The large site lends itself well to a mix of uses due to its scale and pivotal location, which is easily accessible via the M1 motorway from J31 to the east and J33 via the Sheffield Parkway to the north; it also has good public transport links."

GVA Grimley and Crossland Otter Hunt are joint agents on the scheme.