Division Street first closed to traffic during pandemic six years ago

Work is planned to finally make the closure of a Sheffield city centre street permanent after six years.

Division Street was temporarily closed to traffic during the pandemic in June 2020, along with Upper Pinstone Street.

Sheffield City Council is now looking to spend £170,000 on proposals for the road’s permanent closure.

A meeting of the council’s finance and performance policy committee next Monday (September 21) is being asked to approve increasing the budget from £126,000.

This will fund work on devising a solution for the permanent closure of Division Street. The road was closed between Westfield Terrace and Rockingham Street via an experimental traffic regulation order (ETRO) which has now been made permanent.

Division Street in Sheffield city centre | Julia Armstrong, LDRS

placeholder image — Division Street in Sheffield city centre | Julia Armstrong, LDRS

A report to the committee says: “This assisted in the co-ordination of diverted traffic by re-routing buses around the city centre to enable the closure of Upper Pinstone Street to motor vehicles.”

An initial proposal has been scrapped and a revised scheme is being devised.

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The aim is to create “a safer, more attractive and accessible Division Street, making it easier for people to walk, wheel and cycle between the city centre, the university and surrounding neighbourhoods”.

It is also intended to support local businesses, hospitality venues and the wider city centre economy by creating a more welcoming environment that encourages people to visit, spend time and shop in the area.

It is part of a larger plan to create a greener city centre with cleaner air and better access to public transport.

The council will seek funding from South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority for the proposal.