Rotherham United have stalled plans that would have seen the former Guest and Chrimes Site transformed into a leisure venue for football fans
Rotherham Council had previously earmarked part of a £36.1m grant for redeveloping the former brass foundry located on Don Street and turning it into an 800 capacity venue for home and away fans.
It’s emerged that plans to transform the grade II-listed building have come to a standstill after the council were unable to reach an agreement with leaseholders, Rotherham United.
Simon Moss, RMBC assistant director for planning, regeneration and transport said: “Rotherham Council secured £4.5 million through the Towns Fund Deal targeted to develop the former Guest & Chrimes building into an entertainment venue, primarily hosting live music events.
“However, an agreement could not be reached with the leaseholders of the building, Rotherham United Football Club, on terms that would allow the development to take place.
“We remain open to further dialogue with the football club on any plans they may have to find a suitable alternative opportunity for the landmark building.
“We will be in a position to confirm the wider programme of works progressing through the Towns Fund in due course once all the relevant negotiations have taken place.”
In July 2018, fire crews tackled a blaze at the site, which resulted in part of the building being demolished due to safety concerns
Millers chairman, Tony Stewart previously expressed his confidence in plans for the site during a fans’ forum in 2017 saying “We now have a leisure company that want to invest their time and resources into the Guest & Chrimes building.’
“I am optimistic that we now have a situation where we can work with English Heritage and retain quite a lot of the existing building,”
Rotherham was awarded £31.6 million to carry out ambitious regeneration projects across the town centre, Eastwood and Templeborough from the governments Towns Fund in June 2021
Part of this plan focused on a number of schemes deliverable within five years, including regenerating the Guest & Chrimes heritage site to provide attractive public spaces and leisure facilities.
The funding would enable work to go ahead to create attractive public spaces and transform derelict heritage buildings on High Street and Corporation Street – creating a gateway from the Minster Gardens across to the new Forge Island leisure development.
