Mayor Oliver Coppard alongside leaders of South Yorkshire’s Councils have agreed to introduce bus franchising across the region, taking another element of public transport in Sheffield into public control.
I’m delighted that bus franchising in Sheffield will begin in 2027, giving us a clear route to taking back control of fares, routes and timetables. This is being delivered through a £350 million investment in our buses from the new government — a vital step towards building the first-class, integrated bus network our city deserves, working alongside our expanding tram network.
Mayor Oliver Coppard, alongside South Yorkshire leaders, have taken the bold and necessary decision to bring our buses into public control — something that was overwhelmingly backed by the people of Sheffield during the consultation. We’ve already seen the benefits of public control in Greater Manchester, and there’s no reason why South Yorkshire can’t achieve the same success.
Sheffield is undergoing a major transformation — with thousands of new homes and jobs, and exciting new venues and public spaces coming to life. To support this growth, we need a reliable, accessible transport network that helps people get around quickly and easily. That’s why we’re also investing in measures to improve journey times through our Connecting Sheffield programme, including improvement projects on Abbeydale Road and Ecclesall Road, and pushing ahead with our £11 million EV Bus Fund to help electrify Sheffield’s buses and clean up the air we breathe.
Franchising is a critical step in creating a public transport system that works for our residents and is truly fit for the future.
Cllr Ben Miskell, Chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee at Sheffield City Council
You can find more information from South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority here.