Connectivity improvement plans to be unveiled for Neepsend and Kelham

Artist impression of West Bar

As part of the ongoing regeneration and improvements being delivered across Sheffield City Centre and surrounding neighbourhoods, work will soon start at Kelham and Neepsend as well as the area around West Bar.

The work at Kelham and Neepsend will include:

• Creation of continuous footpaths and new cycle lanes, offering a better environment for pedestrians and cyclists
• Changes to the road layout on Neepsend Lane and construction of a controlled crossing at the junction of Neepsend Lane and Rutland Road, to provide safer crossing places for pedestrians & cyclists, as well as improving bus movements.
• Traffic Management Interventions – including one-way streets, road closures and banned turns.

The work at West Bar will include:

• A new, reconfigured roundabout which prioritises pedestrians and cyclists
• Footpath widening and new cycle lanes on West Bar and Tenter Street
• An improved crossing of the ring road

Some of the layout changes that we’re proposing can only be introduced following the introduction of a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO). A TRO is a legal order which allows councils to change the way roads are used, such as regulating the speed limit, banning some turns, making a road one-way or changing loading and waiting restrictions – often indicated by parking bays or yellow lines.

Sheffield City Council, and its project partners, are holding a public information event to share updated plans and offer the opportunity to speak to contractors and officers, following initial public consultation in 2021.

Members of the public can attend the drop-in session, taking place on Tuesday 28 February, 1pm-7pm at Kelham Island Museum, Alma Street, Sheffield S3 8SA.

Councillor Mazher Iqbal, Committee Chair for Transport, Regeneration and Climate change said: “There is a huge amount of regeneration work taking place across the city, and it’s important that we make it easier to travel by public transport, cycling and walking.  

“Making it easier to walk and cycle is especially important in development areas where journeys are likely to be shorter. We want other methods of transport to be accessible, reliable, and one of the first things people think of when planning their journey around the city.

“Members of the public are invited to hear more on the proposed changes, and this drop-in session provides an opportunity to get answers to your questions.

“Our aim is to make our neighbourhoods pleasant places to live, and help people feel able to choose sustainable transport options.  These proposals will help towards that.” 

The new Traffic Regulation Orders being advertised are:

• To prioritise bus movements on Burton Road and Neepsend Lane
• A series of new, and changes to existing, traffic movement orders to reduce the general traffic flow through Kelham, Neepsend and streets around West Bar
• A new 20mph limit on some streets in Neepsend and Kelham to improve the environment for walking and cycling
• To remove the 20mph speed limit on Harvest Lane, Hicks Street and Platt Street, reverting to 30mph

You can view the plans for the Neepsend-Kelham scheme on the Connecting Sheffield website:  https://connectingsheffield.commonplace.is 

Details of the TROs are on the Sheffield City Council website, , and the consultation period ends on Thursday 23 March. You can ask questions by emailing scheme.design@sheffield.gov.uk

Any objections will be duly considered and, where possible, changes will be made to address concerns. If changes aren’t possible and objections are outstanding, these matters will be referred to the Council’s Transport, Regeneration and Climate Committee who will decide on how to proceed.

Connecting Sheffield: Neepsend – Kelham – City Centre is being delivered by Sheffield City Council and is part-funded by South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority