Backing for 'real winner' scheme on colliery site

PLANS for a large office park and almost 4,000 homes on the site of a former colliery on the border between Sheffield and Rotherham were given approval by planners yesterday.

The Waverley site, which is in Rotherham, is owned by Harworth Estates, the land-ownership arm of mining company UK Coal which took on several pits from British Coal.

It is hoped that the office park, which will be developed by specialist firm Helical Governetz will attract Government departments and offices to relocate to the site, providing jobs.

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Last week, members of Sheffield Council voted to support the scheme – despite being advised to oppose it by officers, who said the office park was against planning policy.

Yesterday's meeting was held at Rotherham Town Hall, and the borough's planning board gave the scheme unqualified support, despite it being the biggest development the council has ever had to consider.

Coun David Pickering, chairman of the planning board, said the scheme was a "real winner and exceptionally worthwhile" for Rotherham. It will now require approval from Whitehall.

Coun Pickering said: "The Waverley scheme, in tandem with the Helical Governetz application, can only be good for Rotherham with the number of homes and jobs it is likely to provide and create in the future.

"We have agreed to support both schemes but will now have to wait for the Government's determination."