£28m given for zero-emission Bradford and Sheffield buses

A grant of £28m is being made to fund zero-emission buses in Bradford and Sheffield.

The Government is to work closely with South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire Combined Authorities, to maximise benefits for passengers and improve air quality.

Support announced today comes in addition to the multi-billion pound funding packages given at the latest Spending Review to boost transport connectivity across the country – including in South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire.

Through the £2.1bn city region transport funding announced for West Yorkshire, Bradford could benefit from a brand-new bus station.

In Sheffield, passengers will see a greater choice of high-quality transport options, as South Yorkshire will receive £1.5bn to build a new fleet of trams and renew the Sheffield Supertram system. A portion of this funding will also support South Yorkshire’s ambitions to bring bus services under local control from 2027.

In December 2024, the Government also awarded South Yorkshire with £17m and West Yorkshire with £36m to improve bus stops, maintain fare discounts, and deliver more frequent and reliable services.

In the statement announcing the funding, the Government said regional leaders and manufacturers are also being given a voice on zero-emission plans through the UK bus manufacturing expert panel, which it says seeks to put local people at the heart of bus building.

Local Transport Minister, Simon Lightwood, said: “Buses are lifelines for communities – they transport people to work and get people to doctors’ appointments. I’m delighted that our £28 million investment will bring cleaner, greener buses to Bradford and Sheffield — cutting pollution, supporting manufacturing jobs and driving forward our Plan for Change.

“By backing our Mayors, we’re giving local people the power to build a modern transport network that works for them.”