The people of Stocksbridge and the surrounding area will this weekend be able to take advantage of new bus services better connecting the town.
The two routes are the latest developments in the work undertaken by the Stocksbridge Towns Fund projects.
From Sunday (20th July), a new number 35 daily circular service will better link the town with the Fox Valley Shopping Centre.
The service will run between 6.30am and 6.10pm on Monday to Friday – one every 20 minutes as of 8.30am. It will then run from 7.10am to 6.10pm on Saturdays, again with one every 20 minutes from 8.30am, and hourly between 10.10am and 4.10pm on Sundays.
The service will be provided by South Pennine Community Transport, who already run several established services in the area.
Starting at Fox Valley Way in Stocksbridge, during the weekday full service it will stop at the following streets across Stocksbridge and Deepcar:
On Sundays, the following roads in Bolsterstone will be added:
As well as this, South Pennine will be extending the number 34 bus service that will run as far as the village of Bolstersone. This will restore a bus service for the residents of the village.
This will better link Stocksbridge to Barnsley via Deepcar, Pilley, Stainborough, Gilroyd and Kingstone. It will provide strong transport links to both Northern College and Barnsley town centre.
Both routes are intended to transform local connectivity, with the 35 route operating as a ‘hopper bus’-style community service. As well as linking residential areas with the town’s key facilities, they provide links with the wider network into Sheffield and Barnsley and other key regional locations.
Marie Tidball MP, Member of Parliament for Penistone and Stocksbridge and Co-Chair of the Stocksbridge Towns Fund Board, said: “I am absolutely delighted the 35 hopper bus is being restored to our communities, along with the restoration of the 34 route to Bolsterstone, as part of the Stocksbridge Towns Fund projects.
“As your MP, restoring our vital bus routes is one of my top priorities. Since becoming Co-Chair of the Towns Fund Board, I have been laser focused on ensuring our Towns Fund delivers real change for residents across our communities.
“I have been championing this hopper bus project, including ensuring the number 35 includes Deepcar, along with my fellow Board members and local Councillors.
“The number 35 will run as a circular to around Stocksbridge and Deepcar, linking up Fox Valley with the high school, leisure centre, and Deepcar Medical Centre, and restoring the extension to the number 34 will be a crucial link for Bolsterstone.
“Buses are a lifeline to connect our communities, ensuring everyone can reach school, education, and to see family and friends. I regularly listen to residents on the doorstep who tell me the difference the restoration of these routes will make, and I am so pleased to have worked as Co-Chair of the Towns Fund to deliver this fantastic project for our communities.”
Yuri Matischen, Co-Chair of the Stocksbridge Towns Fund Board, said: “We have long-heard from the residents of Stocksbridge and the surrounding area that they want better connectivity, and more options when it comes to travelling.
“Mobility is vital for people. Not just within their hometown, but connecting them to major towns and cities in the surrounding area to take advantage of working opportunities, leisure facilities, sports facilities, retail outlets and culture.
“We are delighted to welcome these services to our town. We hope residents will take advantage of them and get into the town centre to see the many amenities Stocksbridge has to offer.”
Cllr Ben Miskell, Chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee at Sheffield City Council, said: “Working alongside South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard, we’ve helped fund a vital new service that will open up access to jobs, education and for people to go to the shops - especially important in such a hilly part of the city.
“This comes as we prepare to bring buses back under public control across Sheffield in 2027 - and this new service is a step in the right direction, showing what’s possible when we invest in public transport that works for local people.
“Improving transport connections was a key ambition of the Stocksbridge Towns Fund, and it’s great to see local residents now benefiting from these changes.
“But this is just the beginning. The Towns Fund Board will continue pushing ahead with a full programme of improvements - bringing the change that the people of Stocksbridge have long been waiting for.”
Route information and updates for both of these services can be found on the Travel South Yorkshire website. Here, you can also plan your journey as well as book tickets in advance and check for any disruptions on your route ahead of travelling.
Construction work is due to begin on the new community hub and library that will bring the people of Stocksbridge together in a brilliant new space.
The Stocksbridge Hub 519 building is one of the major pieces of work being undertaken as part of the Stocksbridge Towns Fund projects. It will sit in between Manchester Road and Button Row, near to the junction of Manchester Road and Johnson Street.
The Hub 519 will be the new home of a modern library for Stocksbridge, aligned with flexible, state-of-the-art spaces for business, training and community use. It will encourage collaboration between businesses in the digital, tech, creative, clean growth, professional, scientific and technical sectors, creating highly productive, high value jobs.
The new library space will offer residents a modern library service in the heart of the town. It will replace the current temporary library site across the road in the IKON Church building.
Space will also be created to give opportunities to community facilities and groups to increase the offering of the Hub 519 further.
Those who will be taking up space within the new building is yet to be decided, with discussions ongoing. These will be announced in due course.
R G Carter Construction have been appointed as main contractor for the project. They will move onto the site next month (August 2025) to commence work.
A letter from R G Carter to all residents living near the site will be distributed to outline their commitment to minimising disruption throughout the demolition phase of the current building and construction of its replacement.
The demolition includes the existing Stocksbridge Library building and adjacent former St Luke’s Charity Shop to construct the new multi-storey hub.
To complete this work, R G Carter will set up a compound for welfare and contractor parking; where possible, on the land formerly used for the Stocksbridge Recycling Centre, close to the Co-op store off Johnson Street.
Closures will also be in place on Button Row and the footways surrounding the site, including the cut through from Button Row to Manchester Road.
Construction on the Stocksbridge Hub 519 building will see one of the major Stocksbridge Towns Fund projects come to fruition.
Marie Tidball, Member of Parliament for Penistone and Stocksbridge and Co-Chair of the Stocksbridge Towns Fund Board, said: “After months of hard work to get here, I’m delighted that Stocksbridge residents will start to see and feel the benefit of the Towns Fund.
“The Stocksbridge 519 Hub is the crown jewel of this project, celebrating our industrial heritage and breathing new life into the heart of Stocksbridge. As your MP, creating healthy high streets for our communities is one of my top priorities. This hub will offer something for residents and businesses alike, while giving the town a building it can feel really proud of.
"With the number 35 Hopper Bus being revived, and the 34 route being restored to Bolstertone, and now Hub 519 construction getting under way, I’m proud that residents are going to start seeing the promise of the Towns Fund being realised.”
Yuri Matischen, Co-Chair of the Stocksbridge Towns Fund Board, said: “Visually, this is the largest of the projects due to be undertaken as part of the regeneration of Stocksbridge. It will form a real focal point for the town and benefit not just Stocksbridge residents, but visitors, workers and business owners.
“We are very excited that work will begin on this project. The board has previously released images of what the finished building will look like and these are currently being updated. We look forward to sharing these once they are completed so everyone can see the fantastic facility that is coming.
“Every town needs somewhere where residents can gather, spend time together to socialise or enhance their life chances and learning. This space will provide just that for Stocksbridge and beyond.”
Neal Wheatley; General Manager at RG Carter, said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Sheffield City Council and the Stocksbridge Towns Fund Board to deliver the Stocksbridge Hub 519 as part of the Manchester Road transformation.
“We look forward to supporting the creation of a vibrant space that fosters collaboration, enhances education and skills, and provides high-quality community services at the heart of the town.”
The Stocksbridge Hub 519 is currently due to open in early 2027.