Case study

Rotherham’s leisure attractions to receive a £20 million boost

£20 million from the Levelling Up Fund will upgrade several of Rotherham’s attractions.

£20 million from the Levelling Up Fund will upgrade several of Rotherham’s attractions, including:

  • the Magna Science Adventure Centre
  • Rother Valley Country Park
  • Wentworth Woodhouse

A new Skills Village will be created at Gullivers Resort and former Maltby Grammar School.

Wentworth Woodhouse to expand its attractions

The Grade I listed Wentworth Woodhouse site to the north of Rotherham is being improved.

The Levelling Up Fund will:

  • help transform part of its riding school and stables

  • create new hospitality and visitor centres

The Magna Science Adventure Centre to increase exhibitions

Magna will create a suite of new exhibitions in its huge former steel works.

The exhibitions will focus on:

  • natural materials
  • science
  • nature

Rother Valley Country Park to promote the outdoors

The beautiful Rother Valley Country Park will start the first stages of a new masterplan.

The masterplan focusses on:

  • promoting a healthier and greener lifestyle
  • physical activity and adventure

New Skills Village will support leisure industry training

A new Skills Village at Gullivers Resort will be created.

It will focus on the hospitality and leisure sector, supporting:

  • development
  • accreditation
  • training

Maltby Academy Trust will invest in the redevelopment of the former Maltby Grammar School.

This will create an incubator space for:

  • start up support in the leisure and hospitality sectors
  • apprenticeships
  • training

The investment will bridge the gap between school and employment.

Rotherham’s cabinet member for Jobs and the Local Economy, Councillor Denise Lelliott, said:

The Council aims to grow Rotherham’s leisure industry and our local economy by making the most of our assets. To enable that growth to happen we need to develop skills in that sector, so as well as developing some of our much-loved attractions we will also be using the funding to provide opportunities for local people to upskill.

Learn more about Rotherham’s Levelling Up project.

How Rotherham will benefit

The projects boost the local area by:

  • training the next generation of local hospitality workers
  • making Rotherham a more appealing place to visit
  • enhancing its existing assets

Find out more about levelling up.

Published 17 January 2023