Last year we reported on initial proposals to re-route Stagecoach Supertram between Granville Road and the city centre as part of major redevelopment plans of Sheaf Valley. But these plans have now been abandoned with the Council saying the so-called Sheaf Valley Masterplan was never set-in-stone. While the tramway route change won’t happen other aspects of the plan are still going ahead according to the latest statement.
As a reminder – as it was March 2020 it was announced and a lot has happened in the world since! – it was suggested that trams would continue to run from Halfway and Herdings Park as far as Granville Road but instead of the route continuing round the back of the station and then across Park Square Bridge it would have been diverted to head over the railway. There would have been new stops at Granville Square and Sheaf Square (for the railway station) with the line passing Sheffield Hallam University and the bus station before arriving at Fitzalan Square to join the existing route. Meanwhile, the old route would have been converted into a dual carriageway.
But all that has now been abandoned with Cllr Terry Fox, Leader of Sheffield City Council, saying: “Changes to Park Square roundabout and switching the tram route and dual carriageway are no longer being considered as potential options for development in the city centre. These changes were drafted as concepts that could be explored in the future and have never been viewed as concrete plans. A consultants’ report showed that this project was technically possible and gave an indication of what it might look like for us to consider. We have examined this and ruled it out as we do not feel it meets local needs, offers value for money or would meet our environmental ambitions. We remain fully committed to the regeneration of this area.”
Back as you were then!