Rotherham Council has backed a multi million pound project to create a unique culture and leisure development in Rotherham based on the “Visions of China.”
The Council’s Cabinet has selected the preferred developers for the fomer Pithouse West colliery site, located to the north of Rother Valley Country Park.
The site of the proposed £350m YES! Project was put up for sale by the Council in May after developers, Oak Holdings made a material lack of progress since they entered into a preferred developer agreement in 2003.
Visions of China will be a £118m, 120 acre cultural theme park set in an authentically built and landscaped Chinese environment combining a range of experiences and activities for visitors.
The bid was put forward by leisure organisation China Vision Ltd and regeneration specialist MCD Developments.
The Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) was keen to endorse a bid led by the consortium to secure £5.7m from the government’s Regional Growth Fund that would “bring forward an iconic addition to the British tourism market.”
Councillor Roger Stone, Leader of Rotherham Borough Council, said: “This is a prestigious project which will create hundreds of new jobs and bring in many thousands of visitors and we are delighted that it is being brought to Rotherham.
“Our decision today is the first stage on the road to turn this “China Vision” into a reality and we will be working hard with the partnership to make it happen.
“This site has great potential and this proposal offers an exciting, unique and imaginative new attraction which meets our local regeneration aspirations and the desire of the region to increase the numbers of visitors from across the world heading to Yorkshire.”
From: Rotherham Business News
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