Green light for Rotherham career centre at former rehab site

Five buildings stand on the site, which forms part of the Badsley Moor Lane Hospital complex on Badsley Moor Lane, Clifton.

Application documents state that the buildings used to provide residential rehabilitation accommodation, but are “no longer required”, and are being disposed of by the NHS.

The Park Rehabilitation Centre, Breathing Space Respiratory Clinic, and Rotherham Community Learning Disabilities Service will not be affected by the plan.

The careers hub will provide career education for pupils from 25 Rotherham schools and colleges , in a bid to help them with their job prospects when they leave education.

Around 150 pupils would be able to attend the site per day, with a total of 20,000 youngsters in the catchment area benefiting from the service.

Adults and primary school children would also benefit from the hub, according to the applicant.

Five objections were received by residents, mainly on the basis of flooding to their basements.

An objection was raised by the hospital, with concerns raised patients being disturbed during demolition and construction, the meeting of of Rotherham’s planning board heard.

Resident Karen Kirby told the meeting that her health has suffered due to flooding from water run off from the site into her basement.

Ms Kirby said she supported the careers hub, but her home, which is adjacent to the site, suffered waist high flooding to the basement, which she said was down to “lack of drainage facilities” on the site currently.”

Ms Kirby added that she had been in contact with the council and the NHS, but neither “seemed to take responsibility” for the problem.

“Ironically, I have to visit breathing space because I have in the last 18 months developed an infection in my lungs, which is caused by water, that is coming off that site.

“My house has been reduced by £100,000 pounds, because I am constantly being flooded.”

Ruth Gilbert of Qdos Career Hubs urged councillors to approve the application, which she said was an “exceptional opportunity” to be the first of 160 such centres in the country.

Ms Gilbert added: “The Qdos careers hub will support school and college age students during the day, during academic term time, but it will also support all ages.”

The plan was approved unanimously.

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