Strategic Sites Secures Planning Approval and European Funding for £7m Rotherham Business Park

The scheme, which recently obtained planning approval from Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, is adjacent to Magna Science Adventure Centre, Templeborough and is sited on land purchased from the Magna Trust. It will provide eight separate units ranging from 5,000 sq ft (464 sq m) to 25,000 sq ft (2,322 sq m) in size, with completion planned by the end of 2007.

 £2.2 million from the European Regional Development Fund has been granted towards the scheme as part of the Objective 1 Programme in South Yorkshire, which is investing £830 million from European structural funds in the region. The project is being brought forward on behalf of Objective 1 by Renaissance South Yorkshire, the delivery body established by partners in South Yorkshire to help deliver the economic transformation of the region.

 Anuj Joshi, director of Strategic Sites, comments: “This is a significant scheme for the region, providing a high-quality business location which will appeal to both local and national occupiers.

 “The award of European funding, as well as the swiftness with which planning approval was granted, highlights what an important development this is to the regional economy. We hope this is the first of many projects for Strategic Sites in the South Yorkshire region.”

 Kevin Bennett, of Objective 1, adds: “This investment is one of many being made by the European Commission to support development of the high-quality premises in South Yorkshire needed to attract new businesses to the area or offer accommodation for growing local firms.

 “I am sure it will make an important contribution to Rotherham’s increasing importance as a centre for economic growth.”

Kevin Pearson, head of strategic development at Renaissance South Yorkshire, says: “This development provides South Yorkshire with an important boost to the amount of high-quality business space in the area.

 “This is just one of a number of developments happening across South Yorkshire that are transforming the economic and physical landscape of the area. The commitment of over £2 million of European Union funding is testament to the importance of the project.”

 Strategic Sites is a joint venture between Helios Properties, Kilmartin Property Group and JC Musgrave. The company comprises a team of individuals with extensive experience of delivering large-scale development projects.

 The combined expertise of the team will focus on developing office and industrial schemes throughout the UK and in unlocking the potential of complex sites. With around £50 million of resources to invest over the next three years, the company will focus on developing sites in regeneration areas throughout the UK.

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For more information, please contact:

Emma Oxtoby, Strategic Sites, Tel: 01937 584444

Simon Stretch, Porterfield PR,  Tel: 020 7647 4420