Council to forcibly buy land to transform Yorkshire town
Landowners will be forced to sell their properties to make way for the transformation of a South Yorkshire high street.
Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council (RMBC) is preparing to use compulsory purchase powers (CPO) to enable to regeneration of Dinnington's high street. The decision to employ CPO powers comes after a series of approvals by the Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council's cabinet and forms part of a broader strategy to transform the Laughton Road area into a bustling town centre.
A Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) is a legal function that permits local authorities to obtain land or property without the owner's consent. This power can be used when it is deemed necessary for a project in the public interest.
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Backed by an £11 million grant from the Government's Levelling Up Fund, the Dinnington Regeneration project will encompass the construction of six new retail units, renovation of existing stores, a new market, and enhanced public spaces. The scheme will also introduce a new town square, offering a central location for the open market and improved pedestrian connections between the high street and nearby transport hubs.
The compulsory acquisition of the remaining properties is essential to advance with the development, as discussions with landowners have not reached an agreement. The CPO will allow RMBC to secure the land and property interests within the designated boundary, ensuring the project's future.
The enforcement of the CPO comes after a cabinet resolution in October 2024, which gave RMBC the green light to take all necessary measures to secure the CPO and acquire the remaining land and property interests.
A report on the decision reveals that despite 'considerable progress' in acquiring the required land, RMBC has 'yet to reach agreement on a number of plots'.
RMBC plans to kick off construction once the land acquisition is successful, with an aim to wrap up the project by March 2026. However, there's room for extending the timeline to 2028 if needed.
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