FAQs

Connecting Sheffield: Northern Communities aims to create a safer, more reliable and better-connected transport network for communities in north Sheffield. It aims to make it easier for people to access jobs, education, healthcare, local services and leisure opportunities, regardless of how they choose to travel.

Phase 1 focuses on improving journeys along and around the A6135 Barnsley Road, helping to improve bus journeys, road safety, accessibility and connections between local communities and key destinations.

These improvements are intended to lay the foundations for future phases of Connecting Sheffield: Northern Communities.

The proposals cover the A6135 Barnsley Road and nearby areas, including Firshill, Burngreave, Spital Hill, Firth Park and Longley.

When we spoke to local people, they told us that poor bus services, traffic, road safety concerns and poor conditions for walking and wheeling can make it difficult to get around the area.

Many households in parts of north Sheffield do not have access to a car. They rely on buses, walking and wheeling to get to work, school, health services and other local destinations. Traffic studies also show regular delays at key points along Barnsley Road (A6135).

The project aims to make everyday travel easier and safer. It will help people get to work, school and health services. It will also improve links between communities and create safer and more attractive neighbourhoods.

Before the early engagement, Sheffield City Council developed a longlist of potential improvements. This was informed by workshops with bus operators, Northern General Hospital and local councillors.

In late 2025, we held focus groups with community organisations to talk about their travel experiences, including what works and what could be better.

Local people told us that reliable buses, safer crossings, inconsiderate parking and more accessible streets were important priorities. This information helped Sheffield City Council decide which improvements should be prioritised.

Phase 1 includes a range of improvements at key locations along the A6135 and nearby streets. These include:

1. Green Lane: Minor changes to road markings to make the junction layout clearer and easier for road users to understand. 
2. Longley Hall Road, Firshill Crescent and Norwood Avenue: New parking restrictions to improve visibility, help keep routes clear and make it easier for buses and other vehicles to move through the area. These proposals will also help people walking, wheeling and using prams by reducing obstruction on pavements and at junctions. 
3. Scott Road junction: New keep-clear road markings to help prevent vehicles blocking the junction and to improve access into and out of Scott Road during busy periods. 
4. Spital Hill: Improvements to the existing bus gate through new signs, road markings and coloured road surfacing. A new yellow box junction is also proposed to help prevent vehicles blocking the junction. Together, these measures aim to improve bus reliability and help traffic move more efficiently through the junction. 
5. Hucklow Road: Changes to turning movements at the junction with Barnsley Road, alongside a footway build-out, new parking bays, a traffic island and a vehicle-activated warning sign. These measures aim to improve road safety, simplify vehicle movements and create a more organised parking layout. 
6. Firth Park centre: Changes are proposed to the bus stop on the roundabout to support safer vehicle movements, reduce the risk of collisions and improve visibility around the zebra crossing. The proposals also include new cycle stands, wayfinding signs, updated parking arrangements, retention of existing disabled parking bays and some kerb realignment.
7. Barnsley Road bus stop facilities: We are exploring options to improve bus stop facilities along Barnsley Road. These could include upgraded shelters, seating and real-time service information.

You can find out more on our project website and our maps: https://haveyoursay.sheffield.gov.uk/connecting-sheffield-northern-communities 

Phase 1 is the first stage of the Northern Communities project. It focuses on a number of improvements that can be delivered now using currently available funding.

The Council intends to bring forward further proposals in future phases as additional funding becomes available, building on the improvements proposed as part of Phase 1.

The project aims to improve everyday journeys across the north of Sheffield by making bus services more reliable, improving road safety, creating safer crossing points, addressing parking issues and making local streets easier to use.

It will help make streets safer, improve access to jobs, education, healthcare and local services, support local businesses and high streets, and encourage healthier, more sustainable travel choices. 

By making it easier for people to get around and access the places that matter to them, the project will help communities stay connected and open up opportunities for local people.

The Phase 1 proposals include a range of measures intended to help buses move more easily along and around the A6135 Barnsley Road corridor.

These include improvements to the existing bus gate at Spital Hill, changes to bus stop arrangements in Firth Park, and measures to reduce obstruction caused by parking at locations including Longley Hall Road, Firshill Crescent and Norwood Avenue.

Together, these changes are intended to improve bus journeys.

Bus services are heavily used throughout north Sheffield, including for journeys to destinations such as Firth Park and the Northern General Hospital. Improving conditions for buses can help make public transport a more attractive and convenient option for local journeys.

A bus gate is a section of road that can only be used by buses and certain authorised vehicles.

A bus gate already operates at Spital Hill. Phase 1 proposes improvements to the existing bus gate through new signs, road markings and coloured road surfacing.

A new yellow box junction is also proposed to help prevent vehicles blocking the junction. Together, these measures are intended to help buses move more easily through one of the busiest parts of the corridor and improve journey times for people using public transport.

Yes. Changes are proposed to the bus stop on the roundabout in Firth Park centre. These are intended to support safer vehicle movements, reduce the risk of collisions and improve visibility around the zebra crossing.

Existing bus stops and shelters on Hucklow Road would be retained. We are also exploring options to improve bus stop facilities along Barnsley Road. These could include upgraded shelters, seating and real-time service information.

Phase 1 includes measures intended to make local streets safer and easier to use.

At Hucklow Road, a footway build-out would make the crossing shorter for people walking and wheeling. At Longley Hall Road, Norwood Avenue and Firshill Crescent, parking restrictions are intended to improve visibility and help keep footways clear.

In Firth Park centre, new cycle stands are proposed to provide additional cycle parking. Wider crossing improvements may be considered in future phases. 

Parking changes vary by location. These include updated parking bay markings, new parking bays in some areas, changes to waiting restrictions and measures designed to reduce obstruction caused by inconsiderate parking. The proposed parking changes vary by location.

• Longley Hall Road and Norwood Avenue: New waiting restrictions are proposed to improve visibility, keep footways and bus stops clear and help traffic move more easily.
• Firshill Crescent: New waiting and loading restrictions are proposed to reduce obstruction, improve visibility and help buses and other vehicles move through the area.
• Hucklow Road: New parking bays and waiting and loading restrictions are proposed to create a more organised parking arrangement. The existing disabled parking bay would be retained.
• Firth Park centre: Some existing two-hour parking bays would become one-hour bays to help keep spaces available for people visiting local shops and services. Existing disabled parking bays would be retained and supported by new road markings.

 Some of these changes require a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO).

The proposals are intended to make Firth Park centre easier to navigate, support access to local businesses and services, and improve connections to public transport and other local destinations. They include:

• Changes to bus stop arrangements, including relocation of a bus shelter and amendments to the bus stop on the roundabout.
• New cycle stands.
• New illuminated wayfinding signs showing local amenities, walking routes, bus services and timetables.
• Updated parking bay markings and changes to some waiting restrictions.
• Changing some existing two-hour parking bays to one-hour bays.
• Retaining existing disabled parking bays, supported by new road markings.
• Realigning some kerbs to support safer vehicle movements.

 Detailed information is shown on the Firth Park consultation map.

The Connecting Sheffield: Northern Communities – Phase 1 public consultation will begin on Thursday 8 October and end at 11:59pm on Thursday 5 November 2026.

You can share your views by taking part in the consultation. This gives you the opportunity to comment on the Phase 1 proposals.

 Some measures also require a Traffic Regulation Order, known as a TRO. The TRO consultation provides a separate opportunity to formally support, object to or comment on the measures that require legal approval.

The public consultation and TRO consultation are running alongside each other. The consultation materials explain which measures require a TRO and how to submit a formal representation.

A Traffic Regulation Order, often known as a TRO, is the legal process councils use when introducing, removing or changing restrictions on roads.

Some measures within Phase 1 require a TRO before they can be introduced. A formal consultation is required when introducing TROs to gather feedback on them before they are implemented. 

The public consultation seeks feedback on the overall package of Northern Communities Phase 1 proposals and the wider aims of the project.

The TRO consultation is a separate statutory process. It allows people to formally comment on specific measures that require legal approval.

Feedback from the public consultation will help inform the development of the project. Formal representations submitted through the TRO consultation must be considered by Sheffield City Council before a decision is made on the relevant restrictions. 

After the consultation closes, all feedback will be reviewed, including comments on the wider proposals and any formal responses received through the TRO process.

Where a Traffic Regulation Order is required, the Council must consider any formal objections before making a final decision. If proposals are approved, the next step would be to finalise designs and provide a programme for delivery.

Feedback received during consultation will be reviewed and considered as part of the decision-making process.

The Council will use consultation responses to help determine which improvements can be delivered within available funding, identify any concerns with the proposals and consider any suggestions raised by local people.

We want as many people as possible to be aware of the consultation and our proposals. We are promoting the consultation through a range of channels including letters to those living near to where proposals are being brought forward, community networks and organisations, on-street information and digital channels. We will also host two drop-in events at Firth Park Library:

• Event 1: Monday 19 October, 12.30pm to 4.30pm
• Event 2: Wednesday 21 October, 3pm to 7pm

We are also working with local groups and organisations to help reach people who may not normally take part in consultations, ensuring a broad range of views can be considered before decisions are made. 

We recognise that north Sheffield is home to a diverse range of communities. We are providing information through a variety of channels and formats and are working with local organisations to help ensure people can access information and share their views.

We want to hear from people with different backgrounds, experiences and travel needs, and feedback from all parts of the community will be considered as part of the consultation process.