Bradford and Sheffield will benefit from a combined £28 million in extra government funding for zero-emission bus procurement via allocations that are in addition to transport money for local authorities announced at the Spending Review.
Of that, £20 million is for Sheffield and £8 million is for Bradford. In both places, the vehicles that will be funded sit alongside wider work to roll out bus franchising by the South Yorkshire Combined Authority and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, respectively.
The Department for Transport (DfT) advises that the number of buses that the money will go towards is not yet known, and nor are manufacturers. In 2024, £25.4 million awarded to local transport authorities in the East Midlands via the second round of the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas scheme was cited as part-funding 177 vehicles.
On sourcing the Bradford and Sheffield buses, DfT notes that the money will “support jobs in engineering, construction and green manufacturing, boosting regional economies and delivering the government’s plan for change.”
The £20 million for Sheffield complements £11.5 million already allocated to zero-emission bus procurement by Sheffield City Council using unallocated Clean Air Zone (CAZ) funding and surplus income from that scheme.
Bradford – which also has a CAZ – is already in line for battery-electrics, with Transdev Blazefield having ordered 15 Mercedes-Benz eCitaros for the Shuttle between the city and Keighley.
Local Transport Minister Simon Lightwood underlines how the £28 million will support manufacturing jobs, with DfT noting that around 60% of vehicles part-funded by previous zero-emission investments have been procured from domestic builders.
Mayor of South Yorkshire Oliver Coppard adds that new zero-emission buses in Sheffield “will be a vital part of our fleet as we bring our bus network back under public control from 2027, creating a fully integrated transport system and a future where South Yorkshire leads the way in clean, connected travel.”
Bradford Council Leader Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe notes how since the findings of the troubled Euro VI bus SCR bus retrofit programme were published, she has been keen to ensure that the city is prioritised for investment in zero-emission buses.
“I have personally met with ministers to make the case and therefore am delighted with the announcement today. They have listened, understand the importance of clean air in Bradford, and are investing in our place. It is great news.”
