Demolition work on the former Wilkos building on Corporation Street is under way as the regeneration of Rotherham town centre continues.
The Council acquired the building at 4 Corporation Street in January 2023 to prevent it from becoming a long-term empty building, after high street household, DIY and homewares chain, Wilkos, closed the store after 127 years in the town centre.
The site will be utilised to enhance the Council’s Town Centre Masterplan, and over the next 18 months will be part of the Forge Island site compound.
Heavy plant machinery is currently in operation on the back of the building and will continue to demolish the rest of the structure in sections over the next six weeks.
After being removed, the materials will be recycled and reused in other projects across the UK.
Prior to the demolition starting, the building was stripped inside to ensure that all asbestos was removed.
Cllr Denise Lelliott, Rotherham Council’s Cabinet Member for Business and Economy, said: “With the crane now towering over the ongoing works on Forge Island and more town centre homes becoming occupied, we’re making progress on our plans to regenerate Rotherham town centre.
“The closure of Wilko’s after such a long time was clearly a loss but sadly this is a pattern seen in other town centres across the country. So rather than leave the building empty we want to use the space to help facilitate the wider Forge Island development over the coming months.”
