Outbuildings attached to the former Boys' Brigade HQ, on Barnsley Road, were burned down before they could be utilised as part of the shelved hostel scheme, that met with opposition from locals when plans for its future were first revealed.

Rawmarsh Methodist Minister, Rev Alistair Sharp – who is involved in the scheme as chairman of the Rotherham Homeless Project – said it was upsetting that buildings they had hoped to make use of were destroyed, but that vandalism of that type on an unused site was almost to be expected.

The rehabilitation hostel that he and his committee hope to base at the former HQ is on the back burner at present, after it was agreed Rotherham Council would present alternative sites, in response to local concern following a public meeting.

But the Gateway (as the hostel would be called) committee remain hopeful of reaching some sort of compromise about the Wath site.

Mr Sharp said: "It was a blow to hear about the fire, but it was a bigger blow to us to see the reaction to our initial plans.

"We didn't expect such a backlash and were very disappointed. The point is, the kind of dangers that people feel they may be exposed to, by having recovering alcohol and drug addicts in the area are 100 per cent more likely to take place within an empty and derelict property that is not in use.

"I feel this fire proved just that. However, we have said we will work together with the local community and we will do.

"I'm surprised that we have heard nothing more from Rotherham Council, since the plans were put under review some weeks ago. Until we do, our plans are on hold."

It had been hoped originally that the Gateway hostel would open this month.

But local residents, a Wath scouting organisation sited next to the old HQ, and parents of children at the adjacent Church of England Primary School, protested – not against the project they insisted, but against the location.

Mr Sharp and the would-be hostel manager, Darren Jones, stood accused of rushing their plans through without consultation.

And Mr Sharp's reassurance that those using the hostel under the Victory Outreach scheme would be "dry", typically in their mid-30s and would be specially selected for their suitability and willingness to progress in the scheme, did not change people's minds.

Coun Alan Gosling, who offered his services as mediator following the public meeting, said the plan had given the council a problem because there was no requirement for planning permission.

Mr Sharp added: "The Barnsley Road building is a beautiful old place. I like Wath immensely and genuinely like the people I have met there. We do want to work with people as best we can."

A Rotherham Council spokeswoman said: "We are unable to comment on this incident as this is not Rotherham Council property and it is not a Council project.

"We have given full advice to the project in the past."