The YES! Project
The YES! Project is an exciting development for South Yorkshire, but unacceptable in the location in which it has been proposed and its scale. The site will incorporate two multi-storey hotels, a spa complex, extreme sports facilities, retail space and car parking for more than 3,500 cars, the developers behind the YES! Project predict more than 6 million visitors could be attracted to the themed leisure development over the next 15 years. This would concrete over 12 hectares of the Rother Valley Country Park.
The proposal would contravene the government’s Green Belt objectives outlined in Planning Policy Guidance 2 and their objectives for rural areas outlined in Planning Policy Statement 7. It also contravenes Rotherham’s own planning policies, as they designated the area as Green Belt and developed the site as a Country Park.
It does not represent good quality sustainable development and would detract from the local distinctiveness and intrinsic qualities of the country park and the surrounding area. It would fail to protect the openness of the countryside (the primary purpose of Green Belt designation) and clearly represents urban sprawl.
It is not an appropriate leisure development within the Green Belt and Countrypark as it does not promote access or enjoyment of the countryside. At over 80 metres in height and covering 12 hectares, its scale represents an unacceptable intrusive urbanising feature.
Conservation has always played a part in the valley, with areas of open water and marshland alongside the Rother prior to opencasting. These attracted migrating birds which use the river for navigation as they travel north and south during the spring and autumn migrations. The birdlife of the park has been the focus of continual study since the park opened, with 226 different species recorded in the past 20 years.
Rotherham’s decision to approve this development in principle raises clear questions regarding their approach not only to site selection but also their commitment to a plan-led system, the protection of the Green Belt and sustainable development.
Although the outline application has been approved, the applicants have to apply a second time for approval of their architectural designs before development can commence. CPRE South Yorkshire will fight against any design which is unacceptable and ensure the development is as environmentally sustainable as possible.