University of Sheffield pedestrian and cycle scheme on the move

The the University of Sheffield and Sheffield City Council have embarked on a joint venture to make significant improvements to the University campus.

Earlier this year, the Council’s Cabinet allocated £2.89m of Sheffield City Region Investment Funding (SCRIF) to the total project cost of £8.36m. The University will match this funding with £5.47m of its own investment to transform the central campus into a high quality pedestrian and cycle friendly environment.

The scheme plans on extending the existing ‘Gold Route’, which already links Station Square to Devonshire Green, and provide new and enhanced pedestrian and cycle routes through the University campus from St Georges to the Arts Tower.

Connections between the North Campus on Broad Lane and the St Vincent’s Quarter, which is now home to many students, will also be improved. Works on the University’s own estate, such as the Arts Tower precincts and North Campus will be entirely funded by the University.

The new public routes and spaces will also be provided for the public of Sheffield, not just the University students and employees.

Councillor Leigh Bramall, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Business, Skills and Development, who has approved the plans, said: “This investment by the University shows their commitment to being part of a vibrant and successful city centre.

“At the same time, the City Region’s funding contribution recognises the importance of our universities to the wider regional economy whilst creating an attractive and high quality public realm for all.

“We have considered the feedback received from the recent consultation on this significant project. We believe the proposed changes will improve the movement and safety of pedestrians and cyclists in that area – bearing in mind the large additional numbers of students who will be on campus.”

Following the public consultation on the plans for the University’s central campus, there are also proposals to change some of the city centre roads.

These changes will help support the increasing number of students after the September opening £81m Diamond building, the University’s largest ever capital investment in teaching and learning.

A number of roads in the area of the campus would be restricted to traffic, either permanently, with access for part of the day or with one-way movement only. The closure of Leavygreave Road East will also result in the diversion of three bus services – the 51, 52 and 95.

Keith Lilley, Director of Estates and Facilities Management at the University, added: “There’s no doubt that these major changes will bring real benefits to students and staff, but we’re also really determined to open up the campus to members of the local community through improved pedestrian and cycle access and a much greener environment. We hope that, by making it easier and safer to move around and through the campus, local people will find it much more welcoming.”

Designed by Fielden Clegg Bradley Architects and Masterplanners, landscape architects Grant Associates and Engineers Aecom, working with the Council’s in-house teams, the new proposals include paving, lighting, planting and public art and will create a new central pedestrian and cycle friendly core from Mappin Street to Weston Park.

Work could start this summer and be completed in late 2016.

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