City centre roads to be closed to cars

More cycle paths and pedestrian areas are planned for Sheffield as part of a £21m investment in the city centre.

Funding to make it easier to walk and cycle between Fargate, Heart of the City and The Moor, has been approved by South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard.

Sheffield City Council said it was hoped restricting cars in the city centre would also help bus services become more reliable.

Coppard said: “This important city centre project will not just give us greater freedom and choice about how we travel and move, but will also support our plans to make South Yorkshire the healthiest region in the country."

He added: “It is part of the steps we are taking across our region to build new walking and cycling routes over the next three years, creating better places and more opportunities for us all to move more and move differently.”

The plans include widening the footway between Cross Burgess Street and The Moor to create more space between pedestrians and cyclists.

Surrey Street will be pedestrianised from Pinstone Street and Norfolk Street and will also include a cycle route connecting to Fargate.

Charles Street will also be pedestrianised between Pinstone Street and Union Street

The council denied the suggestion the changes would lead to more people would driving to Meadowhall shopping centre.

In a report, the authority said: “Meadowhall is an important asset for the city and the city centre needs to be different with an alternative offer.

“The plans for the city centre focus on making the area more attractive as a residential location, whilst providing a better environment for people to spend more time outdoors.”

Construction work is due to start in January 2025.

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