£92.7m to replace city's buses with electric fleet

More than 180 zero-emission buses are set to be introduced to the streets of Sheffield at a cost of nearly £93m.

The government will spend £33.4m on the scheme, with a further £58.3m coming from South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA).

An additional £26m will be invested by SYMCA in upgrading infrastructure and preparing the Olive Grove bus depot for the 186 new vehicles.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: "This funding will replace polluting diesel buses with new electric vehicles that will make a real difference to people's daily lives, better connecting them to work, to healthcare and to opportunity, whilst cleaning up the air we all breathe."

South Yorkshire's buses are due to come under public control from September 2027, with routes, timetables and tickets to be decided locally.

Mayor Oliver Coppard said: "Public transport in South Yorkshire used to be world class. But our buses have been broken for too long.

"Now, we're getting on with the job of delivering the promise of a bigger, better transport network, starting with our huge ambition for better buses."

He said the investment would mean "cleaner air, more reliable buses and a much better experience for people".

"This is exactly the kind of practical, everyday progress we can deliver through bus franchising," he added.

"Taking back control, putting people first and building a transport system that works for South Yorkshire."

The government's contribution to Sheffield accounts for 46% of a £73.2m package for zero-emissions buses across England and comes on top of a £20m investment in 2025.

It builds on the its Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas programme which has funded more than 2,500 cleaner buses nationally.

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