Sheffield City Council has approved a ‘Walking, Wheeling and Cycling Investment Plan (WWCIP) scheme to help transform Sheffield into a healthier, more active and sustainable city. This decision was approved on the 30th April 2025 at the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee.
They plan implement new pedestrian crossings, improve pavements and work closely with local communities to design ways to make walking, wheeling and cycling easier.
Cllr Ben Miskell, Chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee, said: “We want to make it easier, safer, and healthier for people to walk or cycle. As part of our Transport Vision, we aim to connect large parts of Sheffield, reducing congestion and providing genuine travel choices.”
“Sheffield is changing, it is transforming into a city fit for everyone. Along with the fantastic regeneration of a number of areas, including the Heart of the City, Attercliffe, and Castlegate.
The WWCIP also focuses on the life expectancy of residents and how it can be improved.
Sheffield currently has an average healthy life expectancy of just 61 years, with a stark 20-year gap between the city’s most affluent and most deprived postcodes. The new Walking, Wheeling and Cycling Plan is designed to help close that gap by improving both physical and mental wellbeing across communities.
When discussed in October, Cllr Angela Argenzio, Chair of the Adult Health and Social Care Policy Committee said: “Active travel will not only improve people’s health but also enhance air quality. This initiative aligns with the Fair and Healthy Sheffield Plan, which aims to close gaps in life expectancy and quality of life by prioritising the health and wellbeing of those most in need.”
The WWCIP is being developed alongside similar plans with other Sheffield and Yorkshire Combined Mayoral Authority (SYMCA) members in Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham to combine into an emerging South Yorkshire Walking, Wheeling and Cycling Strategy.
The WWCIP is forecast to cost between £300-400 million, alongside additional requested funding.
