Rotherham Council’s Rother Valley Country Park is set to benefit from improvements on site following planning permission being approved.

This news follows planning permission also being received for the £2.5 million development of a new café building at the Council’s Thrybergh Country Park. Both projects are part of a £20 million investment in leisure, economy and skills in Rotherham that the Council secured through the Levelling Up Fund. £5.5 million is committed to Rother Valley Country Park and £2.5 million to Thrybergh Country Park.

At Rother Valley, new facilities will include the development of a waterfront café with impressive views across the main lake. It will feature both indoor and outdoor seating with a first-floor events space available for events and meetings. Improvements to parking facilities and a relocated cycle hub will be complemented by a high-quality landscaping scheme to enhance the visitor experience including a new play area. The existing café in the courtyard will be adapted as a “grab and go” outlet.

The development further improves facilities for visitors at the popular park, with Gulliver’s Valley Resort and Waleswood Caravan and Camping Park as neighbours.

Rotherham Council’s Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion, Councillor David Sheppard, said: “It’s fantastic to see the planned improvements to the facilities at Rother Valley and Thrybergh Country Parks which will develop the sites into a more attractive destination for visitors. Once the works are completed, the venues will support year-round events and provide a wide range of fun activities for people to take part in.”

“We’re aiming to grow Rotherham’s leisure industry and expand economic opportunity for our residents, so that they can advance their skills and realise their ambitions.”

Works for both schemes are due to start later in the year.