The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) has confirmed that bus services across the region will move to a franchised model following one of the largest public consultations on bus reform in the UK to date.
Mayor Oliver Coppard announced the decision today (18 March) after receiving majority public backing. More than 7,800 people responded to the 12-week consultation, with 87% “either strongly supporting or partially supporting” plans to bring buses back under public control.
Under the plans, SYMCA will assume control of depots, fleets, service standards, fares and ticketing across Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield.
The first tranche of publicly controlled services is expected to enter operation from September 2027, with a full rollout by July 2029.
The franchising scheme will be delivered through large ‘anchor’ contracts built around existing major operator depots, complemented by smaller contracts aimed at SMEs. SYMCA has indicated it may lower barriers to entry for smaller operators through a more relaxed pre-qualification regime, and the possibility of joint bidding.
The financial foundation for the move to franchising has been confirmed in the consultation response, with £350 million earmarked from the next City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (2027-32) for capital investment in fleet renewal and depot acquisition.
In addition, £5 million of transitional funding has been allocated for the 2025/26 financial year to support early implementation steps.
At the same time, SYMCA has appointed Katharine Hammond as Chief Executive, with a fixed salary of £220,000 per year.
Integrated transport ambitions
The move follows the earlier return of South Yorkshire’s Supertram into public ownership last year and forms part of the Mayor’s ambition for a fully integrated transport system. In the coming months SYMCA will engage with communities on future network design and vehicle features, and plans to announce a new integrated transport branding for buses, trams and other assets.
The authority acknowledges that franchising carries financial risks, particularly after 2042, when a second borrowing-funded fleet renewal cycle is expected to generate annual deficits. These deficits are projected to be offset by surpluses accumulated in the first 15 years of operation.
The decision also sets in motion the process to wind down the existing South Yorkshire Enhanced Partnership Scheme, with responsibility delegated to SYMCA’s Executive Director of Transport.
Mr Coppard’s move in seen as one of the most significant regional bus reform decisions since the introduction of Manchester’s Bee Network. Operators currently serving the region, which includes First South Yorkshire, Stagecoach Yorkshire and TM Travel, will now face a period of review as the market transitions from deregulation to a contract-based model.
“Today, we’ve made history; turning back the tide on the failed experiment of the privatisation of our bus network that was started in the 1980s, putting the public back into public transport,” Mr Coppard says. “When I was elected as South Yorkshire’s Mayor in 2022, I promised to take back control of our buses. Today I’m proud to say that is a promise being kept.
“Starting in 2027, we will begin to take back control of routes, fares and timetables across South Yorkshire, so we decide where buses run, when, and where.
“Over the last forty years we’ve seen public transport taken apart; fares go up, routes and passenger numbers go down, and our city centres, our high streets and our economy flatline. I want us to build a bigger and better economy in South Yorkshire and we need a public transport system that allows people to get to where they want to go, when they want to go there.
“After nearly thirty years we took the tram back into public control last year. Today is another huge step on that journey. The destination is a fully integrated transport system across Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield, one that works in the interests of our communities and our economy, putting people back in control of essential services.
Commenting on SYMCA’s position on franchising, Local Transport Minister Simon Lightwood says: “I am absolutely delighted that local leaders across South Yorkshire have voted with both hands today to take back control of their buses and give local people the services they deserve, meaning that residents from Barnsley to Bawtry will be able to visit their friends and family, reach exciting job opportunities and access the public services they need.
“Through our incoming Bus Services Bill, we are determined to unlock this opportunity for communities up and down the country that have been cut off from reliable local transport for far too long, and drive up living standards, as outlined in our Plan for Change.
“Alongside the Bill, we’re investing over £1 billion to make services more reliable, frequent and affordable – including over £17 million right here in South Yorkshire that could be used to boost infrastructure, enhance service frequency or improve reliability.”
A summary of consultation responses and SYMCA’s response has been published and is available on the Combined Authority’s website.
