Harworth Group plc, a regenerator of land and property for sustainable development and investment, has revealed that construction has commenced on Olive Lane, a new mixed-use heart of the community at its Waverley development in Rotherham, following the receipt of a planning approval for the scheme in November.
Harworth has also announced two important steps towards delivery of the scheme: first, the completion of a sale in January 2024 to regional builder Sky-House, to build 50 new homes as well as its new headquarters within the Olive Lane development; and secondly, an agreement with NHS England and Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council to allow construction of the site’s medical centre to commence.
Olive Lane is a new mixed-use heart of the community that will provide convenience retail, cafés and restaurants, alongside a new medical centre. It will comprise a new pedestrianised high street with 21,000 sq ft of retail and leisure space, linking the Waverley residential neighbourhood with the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP).
The high street and associated public realm have been designed by local architect CODA to create an inviting and attractive space that bridges the architectural styles of the residential area and the AMP.
Olive Lane will become a new social hub for Waverley residents and workers at the AMP, further enhancing the amenities already available on site, which include 310 acres of green space, a school, family pub, community garden and learn-to-ride cycle track.
Harworth has also completed a two-acre land sale to Sky-House to develop an additional 50 residential units directly adjacent to Olive Lane’s high street, alongside a new headquarters for the company and a small amount of retail and leisure space.
The new units will comprise family homes as well as apartments, and will follow a bespoke design code aligned to Sky-House’s existing products at Waverley.
This is Harworth’s fourth transaction with the regional housebuilder at Waverley, and follows a land sale late in 2022 to allow Sky-House to develop Waverley Central, a new 106-home scheme which also lies adjacent to Olive Lane.
Completion of the high street element of the scheme, including the medical centre, is anticipated by the end of 2024, after which fit-out works for the retail and leisure units will begin.
Ed Catchpole, regional director – Yorkshire & Central, Harworth Group plc, said: “We are very excited to be starting work on Olive Lane, and to have completed this land sale to Sky-House, a trusted partner who shares our vision for making Waverley an attractive, vibrant and inclusive community.
“We know that many in the local area are excited about this part of Waverley being created, and we look forward to it being a place for those living and working here to come together and shop, eat and drink, or meet with friends.”
David Cross, founder and director of Sky-House Co, said: “Our fourth deal with Harworth at Waverley is particular exciting as it helps provide the final and most crucial piece of the jigsaw in delivering a true heart of the community.
“Olive Lane fully represents our design-led and low carbon ethos as a business and our decision to move our headquarters there anticipates the vibrant place that it will become.
“Harworth has been instrumental in supporting our growth as an SME housebuilder over the past seven years and we look forward to continuing to work with the company throughout 2024, including in welcoming a range of new tenants for the scheme.”
