Doncaster’s first Health on the High Street scheme on Waterdale in the city centre will focus on children and young people’s mental health services, Mayor Ros Jones has revealed.

The Mayor, who is serving her fourth term leading the City of Doncaster Council, said legal agreements between the unit owner, the council and the Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Trust (RDaSH) were yet to be completed.

In a statement, Mayor Jones said: “Once all the necessary legal agreements are complete, Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust will take responsibility for the fit-out and timeline for the former St Modwen building to deliver Health on the High Street. We are delighted that this will include an overwhelming focus on the mental health of children and young people in the city.”

The Health on the High Street service in Doncaster city centre has been slow to materialise, with initial discussions on bringing the vacant St Mowden building into use now over a year old.

The Village unit on Waterdale where NHS services are planned to move in to. | LDRS

placeholder image — The Village unit on Waterdale where NHS services are planned to move in to. | LDRS

However, progress has picked up in recent months, which will be reassuring for the Mayor, whose plans to regenerate the Waterdale site are dependent on the NHS scheme going ahead.

By entering into a lease with the building’s owners, Waterdale Developments Limited, Doncaster Council will have the option to take ownership of a significant portion of Waterdale shopping centre.

Mayor Jones said: “Cabinet took the decision in December to approve entering into a lease to enable the option for the freehold transfer of land and assets in Waterdale to City of Doncaster Council for regeneration purposes and enter into a sublease to support the Health on the High Street initiative.

Mayor Ros Jones speaking durign the cabinet meeting in December 2025. | Doncaster Council

“In January, the decision was taken to secure a developer to deliver the outline proposal for the regeneration scheme for Waterdale and Colonnades.

“We expect to have a further update in the next couple of weeks.”

The Mayor said the council would continue to work closely with partners on the scheme, which “unlocks the wider Waterdale area for regeneration, which will see the area developed to link it to the rest of the city centre”.

An overhead image showing who would own what parts of Waterdale. Areas where the freehold would be transferred to Doncaster Council are in green. | LDRS

When the lease with Waterdale Developments Ltd – which is owned by Michael Murray and John Nicholson, owners of Lazarus Properties Ltd – a sub-lease will be signed with RDaSH for the NHS Trust to run the Health on the High Street scheme.

Mayor Jones and her cabinet will then meet to approve the freehold purchase of the relevant parts of Waterdale.

Doncaster Council has not yet shared any details on its plans for the redevelopment of Waterdale, including whether any buildings, some of which contain trading businesses and flats, will be demolished.