MAYOR HAILS £190M INVESTMENT FUNDING ACROSS SOUTH YORKSHIRE

Published 27 June 2025 at 11:30am

Nearly £190m of investment has been completed in South Yorkshire over the last two years supporting capital projects and Investment Zone activity supporting business expansion, new housebuilding, improvements to transport infrastructure and flood prevention.

A total of £181 million from South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority’s (SYMCA) Capital Investment Programme has supported the completion of projects across South Yorkshire, working with local partners, to create a wealthier, healthier, happier and safer region – and there’s more to come.

A meeting of the SYMCA Board this week heard the investment supported the completion of 22 projects in South Yorkshire in 2024/25 – totalling £39m.

The investment brings the total to 62 completed projects in South Yorkshire worth £181m over the past two years.

A further 148 projects across South Yorkshire are now being delivered or are in the development stages – with investment totalling more than £742.7m including Barnsley Health on the High Street, Doncaster Waterfront, Rotherham Mainline Station and the Castle Project in Sheffield.

Further investment has come from the Investment Zone – the first Investment Zone (IZ) in the UK. In its first year of activity 2024-25, £8m of SYMCA investment brought in £71m of private investment – a ratio of 9:1.

IZ investments have been made across the four boroughs of South Yorkshire including funding to support business expansion, a hydrogen demonstrator, blade manufacturing, and supporting entrepreneurs.

South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard said: “My job is growth, across all four corners of South Yorkshire.

“That means investing our money in plans and projects that unlock the potential of Barnsley, Rotherham, Doncaster and Sheffield. Working with our local councils, I’ve been able to fund nearly £190m of capital investment – money to build things, make things happen, and bring some iconic buildings and sites back to life.  
“From housing to transport to redevelopment of our town and city centres, we’re funding significant improvements that will make people happier, healthier, wealthier, better protected, and better connected.

“People don’t always know that it’s the office of the Mayor that is behind some of these projects, but I couldn’t be prouder of that work, or of the impact we’re having right across our community.”

Among the Capital Investment Programme projects supported by SYMCA during 2024/25 were:

1. A programme of works across South Yorkshire rail stations to help ensure customers have safe and secure facilities which are accessible, inclusive, give readily available service information, and offer a pleasant waiting environment with appropriate amenities.
2. Rotherham Town Centre improvements including the new footbridge from Forge Island to Riverside, enhancements to key streets and preparation for the Rotherham Markets development.
3. The official opening of the Tommy Taylor Bridge in Barnsley.
4. Support for the development and design of flood alleviation works in Parkgate, Rotherham; Lundwood and Worsborough Reservoir in Barnsley.
5. Improvements to a popular section of the Trans Pennine Trail connecting Sprotborough and York Road in Doncaster which runs close to Cusworth Hall, and a 5km section between Worsbrough and Wombwell in Barnsley.
6. An upgrade of the cycle route from Sheaf Quay to Norton Hammer as the first phase of works along the Sheaf Valley cycle route.
7. Creation of 76 affordable homes on land at Blue Man’s Way Catcliffe and support for the building of 96 homes including 18 affordable homes at Waverley.
8. Preparing three sites working with Doncaster Council for 33 new environmentally friendly homes which will become part of the Council’s social housing.
9. Transforming the ‘Heart of the City’ area in Sheffield by supporting projects including the refurbishment of former retail and office units on Pinstone Street to include a boutique hotel; refurbishing the former Gaumont Building in Barkers Pool to accommodate a recreational and leisure facility; the development of the new Pounds Park and a mini-bus interchange on Rockingham St; and the refurbishment of the Grade II listed Leah’s Yard, creating a destination for showcasing the finest traders and creators from around the City.
10. The addition of new sections of bus lane along the A631 Bawtry Road between Maltby and Hellaby, and in Wickersley.
11. Phase 1 of Connecting Sheffield: Magna-Tinsley: installing a new toucan crossing at the Sheffield Road/Raby Street junction as the first stage of work on a package of measures to boost safe walking and cycling routes within the Magna, Tinsley and Meadowhall area
12. Introducing new accessible electric minibuses for Community Transport Buses across South Yorkshire to replace existing diesel vehicles. Rapid chargers were also provided as part of the scheme.

The Capital Investment Programme is managed by SYMCA drawing funding from a variety of national funding streams and is one of a number of ways SYMCA invests in South Yorkshire.

Programme funding is also complemented by the four South Yorkshire local authorities using their own resources to deliver other projects in their area.

Investment in capital assets such as roads, buildings, equipment and infrastructure ensures South Yorkshire has the right tools to tackle productivity challenges and provide the right platform to give people and business a chance to thrive in South Yorkshire.