Leader of Rotherham Council, Councillor Chris Read has joined partner O&P Construction Services to break ground on the site of a new housing and independent living development.
Once complete, the site on Warden Street in Canklow will boast Council homes, assisted living accommodation, plus a new state-of-the-art day centre for people with support needs.
Following Cabinet approval in 2023, a total of £11m is being invested into the site, which includes a six-bedroom property and two two-bedroom apartments, both of which support independent living for people with complex needs.
Alongside the accommodation will be Castleview, a purpose-built day centre which will provide modern and accessible facilities for people with high support needs, in addition to 13 accessible properties which will be available for Council rent to people who meet the criteria.
The new council homes will comprise of 12 two-bedroom apartments for older people and those with a health need, along with a four-bedroom home suitable for a family with wheelchair users.
Together, the plans will help meet the council’s commitment to deliver modern, purpose-built facilities that more effectively meet people’s needs, within environments that are more conducive to maximising independent living and are closer to home.
Councillor Chris Read said: “The council is committed to developing services for people with complex and specialist support needs and this development will deliver just that, enabling better life outcomes for people to lead independent lives.
“In addition, we’re providing more new affordable council homes for local people to rent, helping support our pledge to deliver hundreds of new high-quality homes across the borough by 2026 through the Housing Delivery Programme.”
The properties will occupy land which has been unused since the clearance of unsuitable properties in 2009, with the development expected to complete in spring 2026.
Andy Marshall, Contracts Director at O&P Construction, said: “As a local business it’s a pleasure to partner with Rotherham Council on this development, working collaboratively, we can ensure the project meets the needs of the borough.
“We are certain that we can deliver an excellent project that will provide much needed facilities and housing to benefit the local community.”
The partnership with O&P will build on the Council’s work on social value to promote local employment through council spending. Throughout the works, the South Yorkshire-based builders have committed to employing 10 local people on the project.
In addition to Council investment in the project, the delivery of Council homes on the site has been supported by the Brownfield Land Release Fund (BLRF2), part of the One Public Estate programme.
