Demolition order requested put in on millmoor - tizer.

[Old_time_miller]

In the paper. Shocked, but it had to come one day. Sad.

[mellowmiller]

In the paper. Shocked, but it had to come one day. Sad.

What happened to the sporting covenant?
Has that lapsed now?

[John2]

Probably irrelevant to the sporting covenant. Demolishing old structures doesn't change the use. Could just be to make space for more sports or new facilities.

[KerrAvon]

A covenant is only of value if the person with the benefit of it can be identified and is willing to enforce it.

If there is a covenant on Millmoor, you'd have to search back through the deeds to establish who the person with the benefit of it was and then trace their heir. The chance of finding such a person who gives a damn about the covenant is probably low and the likelihood is that a bit of cash would persuade them that they really couldn't care less.

There are countless covenants floating around on properties in England and Wales where their original purpose and the will to enforce them has disappeared into the mists of time.

[Brin]

If we recall, Roger Stone RMBC placed a covenant on Milloor stating it could only be used for sporting purposes. This was in order to stop the Booth's demolishing it and extending their business right up to the main road. Not sure how long that order was placed for but I have a feeling it has expired now.

Looking back through the records I found this amazing snippet.

The restrictive covenant on the Millmoor stadium land was placed by the Midland Railway Company.While popular local urban legend frequently attributes the sports-only restriction to the local town council or the Booth family (the scrap metal merchants who owned the ground for decades), official records tell a different story.

The Origin: The covenant dates back to around 1948, when Rotherham United Football Club officially bought the land freehold from the Midland Railway Company. The railway company inserted the clause to legally dictate that the land must only be used for sporting or leisure activities.

The Impact: Decades later, when former club chairman Ken Booth and his family retained ownership of Millmoor, this long-standing covenant heavily restricted what could be done with the site. It legally blocked the Booth family from flattening the stadium and redeveloping the prime area into commercial real estate or a housing estate.

I wonder if anyone has gone back far enough to realise the restrictions placed way back then and would they still stand?

[KerrAvon]

I can't see how Roger Stone could place a covenant on Millmoor. A covenant is a type of contract and Stone would have no standing to impose one.

I suspect the Stone thing refers to some sort of planning restriction, which is all together different.

If it's correct that the covenant was imposed as part of a conveyance of land by the Midland Railway Company when they sold the land then it would be the successor to that company (Network Rail?) who would now have the right to enforce. If they chose not to do so, the current owners can do what they please with it, subject to planning permission.

I doubt whether Network Rail would have any interest in seeking to enforce the covenant.


The Midland Railway company would have had some sort of commercial interest in how the land was used. It's a bit like the covenants that large builders impose when they undertake housing developments - dictating the style and height of fencing etc. It's done to ensure that the development looks 'nice' when the developers are still selling houses. They don't give a fig about enforcing the covenants when they've finished the development and moved on.

[mellowmiller]

A bit more information courtesy of Google:

Millmoor Stadium is heavily restricted by a long-standing covenant that mandates the land must primarily be used for sporting and recreational activities. This restriction has prevented the site from being redeveloped for commercial or residential use since Rotherham United F.C. left the ground in 2008.

Site Constraints: Because of the covenant, the land cannot be sold off for housing or retail, despite large parts of the stadium falling into a state of severe disrepair.

Current Usage: In recent years, the Booth family (the long-standing landlords of the site) have opened the grounds for local amateur clubs, junior sports, and Sunday League matches.

Community Updates: The landlords have made efforts to restore the pitch to working order. Additionally, women's football club Doncaster Rovers Belles utilize Millmoor for their home fixtures.The status of the site is frequently discussed by Rotherham locals.

[HensonsPRman]

Probably irrelevant to the sporting covenant. Demolishing old structures doesn't change the use. Could just be to make space for more sports or new facilities.

Exactly I do not know what they panic is, if Ron Hull is going to turn it into an Academy training complex the first step would be to notify the council that you want to demolish the dilapidated buildings, may be keep one stand but open the site up so that you could maybe have 3 pitches a stand for B team and youth games and state of the art new buildings. Step numberc2 would be to apply for grants and funding. A long way to go on this yet.

[RU66]

When they knocked that old main stand down should have done same with the rest of the ground! After that they put season ticket holders in restricted viewing bottom end of millmoor lane. Then in far side of railway end with the leaky roof. That cramped part built new stand next. I ended up till we left there in the millmoor lane stand under the roof. Great days though 65 to 2008 memories of some great players/managers for us.

[Townerslovechild]

Great news, flatten the dump and use it for something useful .

[Tigerish]

To me it's a thing of beauty, populated by the ghosts of the past. A symbol of the days before football sold its soul to the highest bidder, and never mind who they are.
English Heritage should claim it. It would very useful as living history in much the same way as carefully preserved villages are, and more so as the years pass.

[CAMiller]

To me it's a thing of beauty, populated by the ghosts of the past. A symbol of the days before football sold its soul to the highest bidder, and never mind who they are.
English Heritage should claim it. It would very useful as living history in much the same way as carefully preserved villages are, and more so as the years pass.

You could say that about Rotherham as a whole, apart from the thing of beauty comment. In fact, compared to today it was a thing of beauty 50 years ago. Having been down there early this morning I can't help but wonder where it all went wrong. A bit like the football club, it needs a visionary to come along and reinvigorate it.

[Stovicmiller]

To me it's a thing of beauty, populated by the ghosts of the past. A symbol of the days before football sold its soul to the highest bidder, and never mind who they are.
English Heritage should claim it. It would very useful as living history in much the same way as carefully preserved villages are, and more so as the years pass.

it?s falling to bits so knock it down, the area can be put to better use .