Former steelworks to be demolished for building of new renewable energy plant

The Templeborough Steel Works on Sheffield Road close to Meadowhall, Tinsley and the Magna Science Adventure Centre is due to be knocked down so a new 'gasification' plant that will use hundreds of thousands of tonnes of rubbish to generate electricity.

The site was the former home of waste management firm Sterecycle, which closed in 2013. The site is currently in use as a storage area and headquarters for local roadworks project.

A report going to Rotherham Council's planning committee, which is to determine whether the new scheme will get the go-ahead on Thursday, October 6, said the plant would be capable of handling 215,000 tonnes of waste that would otherwise go to landfill each year.

The site would operate 24 hours per day, employing more than 50 people.

It is anticipated that the building of the new plant would start towards the end of 2017, taking over two-and-a-half years to complete.

The report to councillors said: "In terms of the impact on the surroundings from noise and odour from the site, the closest residential properties are in the Tinsley area, approximately 200m to the south-west of the site.

"The nearest properties to the north are approximately 650m from the site.

"The main phases of the redevelopment have been identified as having the greatest potential for adverse effects upon the existing residents of surrounding properties and are the demolition of existing buildings and site clearance, ground works and piling, construction of new buildings and installation of plant along with associated vehicle movements."

It added: "No objections have been raised, the proposal will generate up to 42 jobs, the site is considered to be suitable and overall the scheme is supported subject to conditions."