A proposal to establish an outdoor events venue with associated camping and glamping facilities near Bassingthorpe Lane is scheduled to be reviewed by Rotherham Council’s licensing sub-committee on July 14, as officials weigh competing arguments over economic opportunities and public safety.
SME Environmental Holdings Ltd has applied for a premises license covering a six-acre outdoor event space within a seven-acre mixed-use site located off Bassingthorpe Lane. The application seeks permission for live and recorded music, outdoor cinema, plays, corporate events, late-night refreshment, and alcohol sales.
According to the application, events would be held between May and September, with up to 16 events annually.
The wider development proposal also includes camping, glamping, and outdoor sports facilities such as football and padel courts. However, the applicant states these elements would operate independently and are not included within the premises license application currently before the council.
Plans submitted with the application indicate the venue could accommodate up to 3,000 attendees, with parking for approximately 200 vehicles and a single entrance and exit measuring 15 meters wide to allow access for emergency vehicles.
The applicant says the venue is intended to host community, sporting, and cultural events and would operate under risk assessments, event management plans, stewarding, traffic management measures, noise monitoring, and Challenge 25 procedures for alcohol sales.
According to The Yorkshire Post, the company also says the venue has the potential to become a regional destination for events while supporting local artists, businesses, and community organizations.
The proposal has attracted objections from several parties, including South Yorkshire Police, which has asked the licensing authority to refuse the application on the grounds of public safety and the prevention of public nuisance.
In its formal objection, the force cited concerns over access via the narrow and unlit Bassingthorpe Lane, the absence of sidewalks, and the site’s proximity to the Victrex chemical facility, which is subject to Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) emergency planning regulations.
The force states in its objection: “The application anticipates attendance of several thousand people, directing patrons, many of whom may have consumed alcohol, onto such a road presents a significant risk of accidents, injury, and harm.”
Ward councilors Linda Beresford and Rob Elliot have also objected to the application, citing concerns raised by local residents regarding potential noise, traffic congestion, parking pressures, and safety issues associated with large crowds leaving the site late at night.
According to the council, 23 separate resident representations, submitted by 25 individuals, have been received. Residents also raised concerns about potential impacts on horses and livestock, crop fire risks, emergency vehicle access, and the distance that music could travel across surrounding open fields.
The application has also received one written statement of support. The resident described the proposal as providing a “fantastic opportunity” for local summer events and family activities.
In response to the objections, the applicant argues that many of the concerns relate to the adopted highway, which is maintained by the local authority and falls outside the company’s control. SME Environmental Holdings Ltd also maintains that identified risks can be addressed through proportionate licensing conditions.
For campground, glamping, and outdoor hospitality operators, the outcome of the July 14 hearing may offer insight into how local authorities assess event-based hospitality developments that combine accommodations with entertainment offerings.
As more operators diversify their businesses through festivals, live events, and seasonal programming, licensing applications are increasingly evaluated not only on their commercial potential but also on transportation infrastructure, emergency planning, community engagement, and environmental impacts. The decision could serve as a reference point for future projects seeking to integrate camping or glamping accommodations alongside large-scale outdoor events.