Heavy plant machinery is currently in operation at the former Wilkos building in Rotherham.

Demolition work is currently ongoing at the building on Corporation Street as the regeneration project in Rotherham town centre continues.

Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council purchased the building at in January 2023 to prevent it from becoming empty, after high street household, DIY and homewares chain, Wilkos, closed the store after 127 years in the town centre.

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The site will be used to imprrove the Council's Town Centre Masterplan, and over the next 18 months will be part of the Forge Island site compound.

Demolition work will continue in sections over the next six weeks.

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."