Rotherham seeks partner for 2,000-home scheme
The council and Fitzwilliam Wentworth Estate are preparing to launch the procurement process for Bassingthorpe Farm, with the successful partner expected to lead on planning, infrastructure, and development of the 460-acre site.
The project is expected to take around 20 years to deliver, with the proposed contract running from November 2027 to April 2047.
An event for prospective developers is due to take place at Rotherham’s Arc Cinema on October 13, and will cover the planning, funding and commercial considerations surrounding the scheme, with attendees also invited to comment on how the development could be delivered and what form of agreement would be appropriate.
The formal tender is scheduled to be published on January 31, 2027.
As well as housing, the proposals envisage employment space, public open areas, and community facilities and the council noted the development partner will be expected to take on substantial development, delivery, and market risk.
Bassingthorpe Farm has been identified for development since Rotherham’s Core Strategy was adopted in 2014. At that point, the proposed development was for around 2,400 homes, supported by 27 acres of employment land, a primary school, and a town centre.
The council revisited the site’s development potential in 2025, concluding that it could accommodate up to 2,000 homes alongside at least 12 acres of employment land.
Transport connections are also expected to form part of the development strategy, with Bassingthorpe Farm located close to the proposed Rotherham Gateway mainline and tram-train station at Parkgate.
The masterplan also proposes walking and cycling connections between the new community and the planned station.
The long-term scheme is one of the major development opportunities planned on the edge of Rotherham, with delivery expected to continue through to 2047.
