Huge £1.5bn plans to transform area around Sheffield train station

The council’s unveiled £1.5 billion plans to transform the area around Sheffield train station ready for the arrival of HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail.

The project will see new buildings for private investment as well as a change in road and tram layout.

The main changes will be:

• The tram route and stop for the station will move in front of the building. It'll pass along along Pond Street, past the bus station.
• The road link to the city centre from the Parkway will move to behind the station, where the tram route is currently.
• Sheaf Street will be pedestrianised
• Park Square roundabout will be scrapped and new buildings erected in its place for development.
• There'll be a new pedestrian and cycle bridge over the train tracks on the South side of the station.
• Car parking for the station will be moved further away.
• There'll be space for new hotels, homes, bars and restaurants, creating up to 3,000 jobs.

The whole scheme could take up to 20 years and will cost £1.5 billion.

The money's coming from various sources including the council, the Sheffield City Region combined authority, the government, Network Rail, HS2 and Transport for the North.

Councillor Mazher Iqbal is the Cabinet Member for Business and Investment:

"We were asked to develop a framework for Midland Station and we took the position to look at not just developing the station but how can we reap the benefits of the wider regeneration of the area over the next 15/20 years.

"It's probably the largest project the city's ever been involved in - it's a hugely ambitious project.

"The current experience when you drive in to the station is horrendous - we're going to turn things round. Coming out of the station you'll no longer see cars but hopefully you'll see the new tram line going across there. There'll be better facilities for cyclists.

"The parkway roundabout completely disappears so those communities up there that feel disconnected from the city centre, hopefully with this regeneration activity it brings them a lot closer to the city centre.

9 million people use Sheffield train station every year.

The plans are in their early stages - with a report setting out the framework of the project set to go before the council's cabinet meeting next week.