Rotherham was announced as a renaissance town in 2002 in the second phase of the Renaissance Towns Programme.

Advisors LDA Design helped to develop the 25-year vision for the town. Rotherham has created a vision of a place for people, building on its roots and developing a new focus on a revitalised river frontage and town centre. Rotherham wants to achieve exemplary standards of architectural design creating a new and exciting place for the future. To achieve the vision, several key projects were identified:

• Westgate: a mixed use residential and office development. This significant development will be guided by a design code and complemented by an area of high-quality public realm which will open up access to the riverside. Rotherham was chosen by the government as one of six areas across the country to pilot a ‘design coding’ scheme. The code will show how the development should be designed; including which components will be provided, for example, new shops, new apartments and high quality public spaces.
• Guest and chrimes: this site is unoccupied with several listed buildings forming part of it. Plans are for visionary architecture, housing, offices, commercial developments and bridges across the River Don to the Westgate area.
• River frontage: a major wetland is being created further up the river that will slow down the water levels and reduce the risk of flooding. The river frontage will also be the site of a new café.
• Cultural quarter: the Forge Island site is the main focus for a new cultural quarter in the town centre. Proposals for the new cultural quarter could see the development of a new theatre, museum and library.

It is expected that around £2 billion will be invested into Rotherham’s renaissance from public and private sources, with about £30m coming from Yorkshire Forward’s Renaissance Towns Programme.

To find out more about the projects you can visit – www.rotherhamrenaissance.co.uk