Oak Holdings, the developer behind a major multi-million pound leisure and sports scheme in South Yorkshire has secured a pre-let agreement with the Sheffield Steelers ice hockey team.

The company has agreed heads of terms with the Sheffield-based team for the development of a new multi-purpose sports facility as part of the wider 327-acre (132-hectare) complex near Rotherham. Plans for the new sports facility will comprise the first phase of the YES! project, with a temporary ice rink managed through a new joint venture between the Sheffield Steelers and Oak Holdings while the permanent stadium is built.

An application to extend planning permission has also been submitted to Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council (RMBC), while talks have got underway with hotel groups over potential future pre-lettings. According to Oak Holdings chief executive officer Steve Lewis, a "whole raft of circumstances" had prevented the group moving forward with the scheme although it is now hoped work can get underway soon.

The £350m development is also set to include a major hotel, convention centre and spa, bars, restaurants and extreme sports provision. Rother Valley Country Park, which was acquired by Oak Holdings in 2009, will also be incorporated into the project. Lewis told Leisure Opportunities: "The idea behind [the project] is a major indoor development, encompassing a complete spectrum of leisure uses and not centred on one particular activity.

"We will progress the design for the first phase but also promote other projects centred on Rother Valley Country Park. An analogy I like to use is to start building the bridge from both sides, rather than just from one."