Purpose

Approval for the Council to complete the
acquisition of land at Sheffield Road, Rotherham.

Decision

 

ROTHERHAM METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL

 

RECORD OF OFFICER EXECUTIVE DECISION
 

Date of Decision:

16/12/2025
 

Title:

Land Located on Sheffield Road, Rotherham
 

Decision Maker
(Including Job Title)

Kevin Fisher, Assistant Director of Property
& Facilities Services

Details of Specific Delegation
 

A decision was made by Cabinet on the
14th April 2025 –
 
That Cabinet:
 
1. Endorsed the allocation of the
‘Strategic Acquisition Fund’ to undertake the
acquisition of land and property at Sheffield Road, shown in
Appendix 1 of the report.
 
2. Authorised the Assistant Director of
Property and Facilities Services to agree the terms and conditions
and complete the acquisition of the land shown at Appendix 1 of the
report in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs,
and the Local Economy.
 

Cabinet Paper 14 April 2025

Printed minutes: Cabinet April 2025
 
Due to a change in Portfolios of Cabinet
Members, consultation has also taken place with the Cabinet Member
for Finance and Community Safety.
 
Cabinet Member for Jobs and Local Economy
approval date 08/10/2025.
 
Cabinet Member for Finance and Community
Safety approval date 16/11/2025.
 

Decision:

To negotiate and agree terms for the
purchase/acquisition (including purchase) of land and property at
Sheffield Road, Rotherham, as previously approved by Cabinet.

Reasons for the Decision:

This decision enables the Council to proceed
with the purchase and finalise the land assembly for the Riverside
Residential Quarter (RRQ). This forms part of the wider strategic
land acquisition approved by Cabinet 28th March
2022.
 

Cabinet report March 2022

28 March 2022 Cabinet Meeting minutes
 

Details of alternative options considered and
rejected:

Option 1 - Do
nothing
This work could not be taken forward at this
time, seeing the property remain in private sector ownership. The
Council has acquired significant land and property within this area
of the town, the proposition for the market and impact on the town
centre of a larger development site is considered more
beneficial.
 
If the Council were to pursue acquisition at a
later date, it would necessitate a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO)
process—incurring significant additional costs in time,
resources, and public funds, while also introducing legal
complexity and potential delays that could jeopardise the momentum
and credibility of the wider regeneration programme. However, the
capital funding allocated and the acquisition of this and a number
of key town centre sites over the last two years has been for the
specific purpose of regeneration and the achievement of
Rotherham’s ambitions. With the availability of Strategic
Acquisition fund and the £600k allocated Feasibility Funding
for the strategic sites work, alongside Rotherham town
centre’s ongoing regeneration, it is now considered to be the
right time to undertake this work.
 
Option 2:
Acquisition by Negotiation
The Council will always seek to acquire
properties by negotiation. Terms have now been agreed between the
parties which will allow the scheme to progress. This option is
therefore recommended.
 

Conflicts of interest declared by any Cabinet
Member consulted by the decision maker which relates to the
decision:

None declared

Dispensations Granted:
(If any)

NA
 

Conflicts of interest declared by the Decision
Maker if they sit as a Cabinet appointed representative to an
outside body which relates to the decision:

None declared

Dispensations Granted:
(If any)

NA
 

Reports or parts of reports considered

ODR Report – All appendices are exempt
from publication 

 
I certify that this
is a true record of the executive decision to:
 
exercise the delegation at
Cabinet in April 2025 to authorise the Assistant Director of
Property and Facilities Services to agree the terms and conditions
and complete the acquisition of the land shown at Appendix 1 in
consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs, and the
Local Economy
 
I confirm that in
making this decision, due regard was given to the seven principles
of public life.
 
Signed by the
Decision Maker
 

 
Dated:         
16/12/2025
 
Name:         
Kevin Fisher.                    
Job Title:     Assistant Director
Property and facilities Services.