The Mayoral Combined Authority Board of South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority Council met on Tuesday 15 September 2026. The Board endorsed the South Yorkshire Strategy and noted the allocation of £85 million for the City Densification Fund, and welcomed the award of £118 million for the National Housing Development Fund.

South Yorkshire Strategy and Proposed Implementation Approach

The Board endorsed the South Yorkshire Strategy as the shared regional framework and endorsed a collective impact implementation approach. This strategy aims to align regional efforts around three core ambitions: ensuring every person can stay near and go far, making South Yorkshire the healthiest region in the country, and ensuring every community is connected and proud of its place. The implementation approach will focus on developing partnership and governance arrangements to provide strategic oversight, focused partnership activity on agreed challenges, and opportunities for regional engagement and accountability. The strategy, developed with extensive stakeholder engagement, will be formally launched shortly.

City Densification Fund

The Board noted the Government's allocation of £85 million of City Densification Funding to South Yorkshire to support housing, regeneration, and employment growth in priority urban locations. The Board endorsed a programme approach to this fund and agreed the priority schemes identified in the report to be progressed: Sheffield Moorfoot, Sheffield Station Campus, and Rotherham Gateway. Individual funding allocations will be subject to the development of appropriate business cases and formal assurance processes. Authority was delegated to the Section 73 Officer, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, to accept the fund allocation and enter into necessary agreements. Mayor Ros Jones CBE noted that Doncaster was not included in this particular investment opportunity, expressing hope for future government densification funds to benefit the area. Councillor Chris Read welcomed the Rotherham Gateway project, highlighting its potential to regenerate the town centre and improve transport links.

National Housing Development Fund

The Board welcomed the award of £118,270,000 from the National Housing Delivery Fund (NHDF) as part of South Yorkshire's Integrated Settlement. This funding will support housing growth and delivery across the region. A mini-programme approach to prioritising and delivering the NHDF programme was endorsed. The Board noted that the NHDF Programme Business Case, detailing the prioritised pipeline of housing schemes, would be considered as part of the Programme Performance and Approvals Report.

Programme Performance and Approvals Report

The Board received an update on the performance of the Mayoral Combined Authority's (MCA) externally funded capital and revenue programmes up to the end of Quarter 1 2026/27. Capital expenditure was reported as significantly higher than the previous year, with strong delivery across major transport schemes and the Brownfield Housing Fund. The Board considered progression to full approval and grant awards for three transport schemes in Barnsley: the Darton Bus Corridor Real Time Information Improvements (£1.2m), the Penistone to Wortley TPT Improvement Scheme (£1.53m), and the Barnsley Active Travel Route – Broadway Schools Travel Links (£1.1m). Progression to post Outline Business Case (OBC) in-principle approval and award was considered for the A61 Chesterfield Road – Phase 2 scheme in Sheffield, with an award of £7.61m. The Board also considered the progression of the National Housing Delivery Fund (NHDF) programme's Strategic Business Case, releasing £1.5m for development.

Several grant acceptances were approved: £0.67m from the Department of Environment Security and Net Zero for the Heat Network Zones programme, £1.98m from Arts Council England for the 2026/27 South Yorkshire Music Hub, £0.15m from NHS South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board for the Prevention Acceleration Programme, and £2.53m from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) for the 'Rough Sleeping programme'. Additionally, the submission of two funding bids to the Cabinet Office for the One Public Estate Pathfinder Pilot and the Regional Capability Fund were endorsed. Authority was delegated to the Head of Paid Service, in consultation with the Section 73 and Monitoring Officer, to enter into legal agreements for these approvals.

Governance Update

The Board noted the recommendation of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee that the Scrutiny Protocol be implemented by the MCA in full. Authority was given to the Monitoring Officer to convene an Independent Remuneration Panel to consider remuneration for MCA members with special responsibilities, in line with new legislative provisions. The Board also noted and endorsed a two-stage approach to reviewing the MCA's governance arrangements, anticipating statutory changes to the scrutiny function, the implementation of bus franchising, and the integration of fire and rescue functions. Ongoing conversations with central government regarding legacy legislative issues within the MCA's Orders were also noted and endorsed.

Delegated Authority Report

The Board noted the decisions and delegations made since the previous meeting, as detailed in the report.

Public Questions

Four public questions were addressed:

• Trans-Pennine Tunnel: In response to a question about a new tunnel proposal, the Mayor acknowledged the importance of improving trans-Pennine connectivity but stated the MCA has no plans or funding for such a proposal, with responsibility lying with National Highways and the Department for Transport. He confirmed ongoing engagement with partners and government on connectivity issues.
• King Edward's Swimming Pool: Regarding the closure of King Edward's Swimming Pool in Sheffield, the Mayor highlighted the importance of swimming and water safety. He noted the charitable trust's decision to close the pool and outlined existing investments in Sheffield's leisure facilities. Councillor Fran Belbin, Leader of Sheffield City Council, added that while the council had explored support options, the required capital and ongoing operating costs were unviable, but confirmed commitment to swimming provision through other facilities.
• Accessibility in Blaxton: In response to concerns about accessibility and dropped kerbs in Blaxton, the Mayor welcomed ongoing work by City of Doncaster Council. Mayor Ros Jones CBE provided an update on planned improvements, confirming that further accessibility and highway maintenance works would be undertaken.
• Free Bus Travel: A question was raised about free bus travel for children in Sheffield versus concessionary passes for older residents. The Mayor emphasised the role of affordable public transport in improving access to opportunities and reaffirmed support for extending free travel for young people across South Yorkshire. Councillor Belbin welcomed the Sheffield pilot scheme.