Sheffield City Council has set out a 15-year framework to prepare the city centre’s transport network for significant growth, with thousands of new homes and jobs expected by 2040. The proposed City Centre Access and Movement Plan is designed to help the network cope with rising demand while supporting economic activity and improving key corridors used by businesses, employees, and suppliers.
Cllr Ben Miskell, Chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee at Sheffield City Council, said, “There is no doubt that Sheffield is an incredible place filled with fantastic things for people to see and do, brilliant bars, cafes and restaurants to meet up with friends and family, and many outstanding shops.
This City Centre Access and Movement Plan builds on the work our transport team has already carried out to make bus journeys more direct and reliable, enabling more people to walk, wheel and cycle for more journeys and reducing congestion for people who need to drive. The plan will go even further to give people more choice in how they get around.”
The plan covers all major modes of transport and focuses on a more efficient use of limited street space. It prioritises walking, wheeling, cycling and public transport on routes where this improves capacity and eases delays, supporting smoother logistics and more predictable travel for city-centre operations. It also looks at improving access for people with limited mobility and reducing conflict points that currently slow traffic.
The framework prepares for the upcoming bus network franchising in 2027 by identifying where reliability improvements and better interchange options could support higher passenger volumes. It also highlights opportunities to strengthen tram connectivity and reduce congestion in areas essential to delivery routes and commercial footfall.
The plan builds on completed public-realm and infrastructure projects at Castlegate, Victoria Quays, the Law Courts, and West Bar. Over time, it aims to create more attractive, predictable, and commercially viable routes through the city centre, supporting Sheffield’s wider transport vision and the needs of a growing business community.
