Doncaster Council seeking developer to lead on major city centre regeneration projects

Mayor Ros Jones said the plans to regenerate both city centre sites was a “major opportunity to tackle dereliction, deliver new homes and businesses, and strengthen Doncaster’s city centre”.

“Residents have told us that tackling vacant and derelict property is a top priority. This scheme addresses that by regenerating Waterdale and Colonnades, driving economic growth and delivering new homes, commercial spaces, and a thriving city centre,” she told her four cabinet colleagues.

Papers, pre-planning surveys and design work for the regeneration of Waterdale and Colonnades will be completed in July 2026, with a submission for planning permission by November 2026.

Waterdale neighbours Doncaster's Civic Quarter, which has already seen modernisation and improvements. | LDRS

Then, in 2027, the council will see a contractor for the construction of schemes – with regeneration of the sites expected to be fully complete in 2030.

Doncaster Council has not yet revealed if any parts of the Waterdale or Colonnades sites will be demolished as part of the schemes.

The regeneration of Waterdale was dependent upon the ‘Health on the High Street’ scheme, finally approved in December 2025, after delays earlier in the year.

The overhead image shows ownership of the various parts of Waterdale. Areas where the freehold would be transferred to Doncaster Council are in green. 

Cabinet approved the council entering a lease with the owners of a vacant Waterdale unit called ‘The Village’, and the council then sub-leasing the same unit to the Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH).

RDaSH will use the unit to provide NHS services in the city centre.

Entering the lease with the unit owners unlocked an option for the council to take the freehold of a significant portion of Waterdale – crucial for plans to redevelop the site.

Mayor Ros Jones’ cabinet will need to approve the takeover of Waterdale when the authority decides to exercise the option.

This article was authored by Harry Harrison for Doncaster Free Press and published under the title 'Doncaster Council seeking developer to lead on major city centre regeneration projects', on Doncaster Council seeking developer to lead on major city centre regeneration projects. It is reproduced above in accordance with section 30(2) of the Copyright, Design and Patents Act 1988.