New £86m ‘superlab’ sparks controversy amidst UCU strikes
Plans for a £86m super laboratory for the University of Sheffield have been conditionally approved by Sheffield City Council.
The confirmation of the building plans have come during intense strike action at the university - the strikers' main concerns revolve around cost-cutting and potential redundancies.
Named the The Central Teaching Laboratories, the building is set to be built near the Ring Road on Upper Hanover Street.
The building will provide two 300 student teaching laboratories, a Medical Teaching Unit and collaborative teaching spaces for the Faculty of Science.
Members from the the University and College Union (UCU) began strike action on 17 November and are expected to continue for another week.
One of the strikers speaking on the picket line today, Professor Willy Kitchen from the University's Department of Education, said: "I would want to understand why that £86m is going to have a greater benefit to the student experience than cutting a significant more number of staff."
The council has now published a planning permission notice for the building. Although there are several conditions that need to be met before construction starts, the plan has been given the go-ahead from the authority.
Due to the large surface area of the building, existing trees in the initial planning proposal were due to be removed.
Last year, the co-chair of Sheffield Tree Action Group had urged members of the University executive board to recognise the "ecological, public health, cultural, historical, spiritual and aesthetic value of mature trees to the community."
The conditions of the planning permission now state the existing trees should be protected.
In response to the strike action, The University of Sheffield had previously made an offer to commit to there being no compulsory redundancies before 31 October 2026, and an additional pause on all new restructures until April 2026. This offer was declined by UCU, and has since been withdrawn.
When asked about the 'superlab', a UCU spokesperson said: "UCU has consistently opposed the 'superlab' as expensive, environmentally damaging (since its plans involved the removal of old-growth trees on the main road), and less useful than a renovation of the University's existing labs spaces."
The University were contacted for comment.
Sheffield becomes the first city in the UK with no under 25s sleeping on the streets
A local youth homeless charity has worked hard to ensure that Sheffield and Rotherham are the first cities to eradicate rough-sleeping amongst under 25s this Christmas.
South Yorkshire housing charity, Roundabout, offers "wraparound support" for 16 to 25-year-olds who are either homeless or at risk of homelessness.
The charity "supports 400 people every single day," including young people in care and supported accommodation.
Fundraising manager at Roundabout, Emily Jones, exclusively revealed: "We are the only city in the UK to be able to say that no under 25 is sleeping rough because of our prevention and rapid rehousing team."
1-7 December marks Homelessness Awareness Week 2025 and aims to highlight the plight of homelessness, educate the public and challenge negative stereotypes as the festive period commences.
While Christmas can be a difficult time for those without a home, Roundabout hopes to make it special for members of the charity and beyond.
The charity pulls together festivities for around 1,000 people and makes sure those with children get a visit from Santa.
Every young person will receive a Christmas card, present, a gift card and those in residential services will also get to enjoy a roast dinner with crackers and all the trimmings, alongside a variety of special events.
Ms Jones said: "What we do see with young people is that they are really tough and they are so determined to turn their life around."
While this milestone has been reached in Sheffield, today the government vowed to make childcare more accessible for families on Universal Credit and to stop children growing up in B&Bs as part of their child poverty strategy.
Yet, at Roundabout they believe "these young people have been let down by so many adults and services in their lives, the point is to rebuild trust and show them that they have a future and that people believe in them."
Photograph courtesy of: Christopher Furlong / Getty Images
Food delivery app has to relaunch after iPhone customers cannot access the service
A new Sheffield food delivery service which launched this week has run into problems after their app and website couldn't be accessed on iPhones.
Fast Lane Delivery was inspired by the Dubai delivery app, Talabat, promising to provide delivery within 20 to 30 minutes anywhere in the city.
However, their service for iPhone users ground to a halt within hours of the launch, last month, preventing many customers from ordering their food.
Owner, Kamran Hussein, 44, said: "The app is easy to develop but it's when you're putting it together to make it work that's where the issues lie."
Mr Hussein explained they were working on the technology to rectify the problem and were hoping for it to be fixed this week.
Director, Assaf Hussein, was keen to explain that overall the app has been a success.
He said: “As regards to the approach from the customer, it's been a great response."
The owner explained Fast Lane Delivery is different from Uber Eats, one of their competitors. They don't charge stores any commission, instead they add 20% to their prices, but claims that is cheaper than the costs of their competitors.
Fast Lane Delivery have big ambitions. They intend to start with Sheffield as a hub and expand across South Yorkshire and then move into other cities including Manchester, Leeds, Bradford, and Birmingham.
The business is running early deals, starting this week, which includes bread, milk and six eggs for 99p.
The company operates within a three mile radius, concentrating on local convenience stores, and using special offers to cater to different demographics.
For example, they claim that by focusing on London Road, it targets the customers around the area and provides them with competitive prices that would support local businesses.
Mr Hussein said: “We're a local convenience delivery app that provides a delivery service with offers and convenience and obviously. We're trying to be as cost effective for customers, rent retailers and drivers as possible."
Rotherham care service runs gift-giving scheme for the elderly this Christmas
A local care service is working to help people with Dementia, and other illnesses, to stay in their own homes for as long as possible.
Based in Rotherham, Home Instead advocates for an individualistic approach, ensuring that no care package is the same and putting the patients first.
Cathy Sommerville, 57, an administrator for the organisation, said: "They're used to their own environment, they know where things are, they feel more comfortable and, by having that, it helps them to thrive."
Field care supervisor, Debi Venables, 60, echoed this sentiment, describing their care packages as "tailor-made to that client."
Ms Venables explained: "There's no quick visits and clients see the same care professionals, so they get to build up that relationship."
Today, they hosted a fundraiser in partnership with The Carer's Choir, a member group of Lost Chord UK that works to support those with neurological diseases and their carers through music.
Sally Glennon, who both works at Lost Chord UK and sings with the choir, said: "The people who join the choirs, it's woken up many things in them.
"We see miracles happen all the time."
The choir sang Christmas hits in the Cherry Lane Garden Centre to raise funds and awareness for the 'Be a Santa to a Senior' scheme.
Ms Sommerville said: "Some people are alone at Christmas and they don't receive any gifts.
"When someone gives you a present it makes you smile and feel like people do care about you."
Initiatives like these are essential to the care sector, going beyond basic medical assistance and going the extra mile to enrich people's quality of life.
To donate to the cause, or find more information, click here.
Sheffield independent business owners “disheartened” by Chancellor’s Budget
In the week following the Chancellor Rachel Reeves' November 2025 budget, local independent business owners in Sheffield have been reflecting on what this means for them.
They are resoundingly discouraged.
Points causing the most unsettlement are the removal of the 40% discount to business rates and the hike in alcohol duty, both changes adding to the list of pressures already intense for many local businesses in the aftermath of the global pandemic.
Hoping to see recognition of, and relief from, the many challenges presented to independently-run pubs, bars and bottle-shops, Sheffield's local business owners have voiced their disgruntlement at what they regard as the government's total dismissal of their plight.
The Chancellor announced business rates will be lowered, initially showing a glimmer of hope and help for businesses.
However, the scrapping of the current 40% discount ultimately renders this not only ineffective, and of little help, but actually detrimental, as some will pay even higher costs than before.
Jules Gray, owner of Hop Hideout beer shop in the City Centre's Leah's Yard, says she feels "lied to" by the government.
Rather than Jules' business being aided she explained, as of April 2026, she will have to pay a tax bill "three times" higher than before.
She added: "It feels counter-intuitive at the current time when you need to create jobs, there's just going to be more job losses and less job creation, and more businesses closing."
She said: "It actively feels like [the government] are running us into the ground.
"There were no VAT cuts, nothing to do with business energy, it's just completely disheartening and awful to have this news and be in this situation ahead of Christmas."
Chris Bamford, owner of three Sheffield pubs (The Rutland Arms, The Crow Inn, and The Harlequin), also shared Jules' sense of despair, fearing a trigger effect which may see further pubs and alcohol traders close down due to high operation costs.
He commented that, in his view, "unfortunately, a lot of businesses in a similar position to us are at risk of closing in the next year if things don't improve."
He appealed for Sheffield residents to support their local businesses to keep the independent spirit of the city alive.
“The Start of Christmas”: Sheffield’s Percy Pud Race Returns
Over 3,000 runners are expecting to win a Christmas pudding at the finish line of the Percy Pud 10k this Sunday.
Since their first event in 1993, attended by 600 people, Sheffield City Striders Running Club have had to cap the number of runners to about 3,000 - a limit exceeded as soon as spots became available.
Among those hoping to receive their Christmas pudding at the finish line on Loxley Road is Polly Rippon, 51, who started running the Percy Pud 20 years ago.
She said: "Although the weather is a bit dicey, it's a really popular event with lots of local runners and local people taking part."
Also taking part is Laura Blackwell, 41. She will be running with her father, who has previously raised money for Sheffield Hospitals Charity, a cause close to his heart.
Ms Blackwell said that the event has a "great community feel," attracting runners of all abilities, and, although the forecast predicts rain on Sunday, "the atmosphere makes up for it."
Both runners see the annual event as the official start of Christmas.
The race thrives on the help of volunteers like Abi Langton, 22, who is helping for the first time this year by handing Christmas puddings out on the finishing line.
She said: "It feels like a special badge of honour to be helping out at such a well-renowned event. In Sheffield there's such a big running community - I'm looking forward to seeing everyone finish their race."
Volunteers are expecting around 100 finishers per minute at the peak of the race.
"Its definitely going to be a hectic day and is going to require a smooth running team to get everyone through," said Ms Langton.
Ms Blackwell said that the course is "a little challenging, but if you pace it well it has PB potential and that's definitely a draw!"
But the biggest draw, of course, is the Christmas pudding at the end.
Resident doctors set to strike again in lead up to Christmas
Resident doctors will be striking again later this month because they claim they have been "left with no choice".
In a press release published by the British Medical Association (BMA), Dr Jack Fletcher, the chair of the BMA's resident doctors committee (RDC), announced how the Government has failed to fulfil the needs of resident doctors.
As a result, they have decided to strike from 17 December for five days.
He criticised the Government for their ineffective action to "fix the job crisis" and decide a suitable pay cut which truly values resident doctors.
Strike action for resident doctors, previously referred to as junior doctors, have been ongoing since 2023 with the most recent strike action being from 14 to 19 November of this year.
The Department for Health and Social Care reported there has been a 5.4% pay increase for 2025 to 2026, and doctors have received a 28.9% increase in the past three years.
Ultimately, if a decision is made before the strike actions take place then they do not need to go ahead.
However, Wes Streeting, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, announced on Sky News his frustration towards the BMA and their decision to continue strike action, referring to them as "irresponsible" and "unnecessary".
He stated he refuses to increase doctors' pay but will aim to tackle how to manage the job crisis.
Daniel Aziz, 24, a fifth year medical student said: "A negative of the strikes is that it has made the public lose trust in the healthcare system."
Despite this, he expressed his full support for the strikes, and said: "Doctors who really want to work are going without jobs."
The main issue he highlighted was his concern for the lack of job prospects in the future.
In contrast, another medical student, Harry Gilbert, 18, stated he has a mixed view on the strikes and said: "I'm worried for the vast amount of patients that might have delayed treatments."
He added: "A big reform needs to happen to the NHS."
Ultimately they agreed it was the government who was responsible for resolving these issues.
Listen below to hear the public's view on the strike action and how it affects them.
Sheffield United’s Reavill nominated for PFA Player of the Month
Sheffield United Womens centre back, Jess Reavill, has been nominated for the PFA Player of the Month award for the WSL 2.
Reavill, 20, has had an impressive month for the Blades as the side picked up their first clean sheet in a 0-0 draw against Nottingham Forest.
Luke Turner's side went unbeaten in the league last month with highlights including 2-1 wins against Crystal Palace and Durham.
Reavill opened the scoring against the Eagles with a header from a corner, scoring her first goal for the S2 club.
A Blades academy graduate, Reavill moved to Leicester City in the WSL and went on loan moves to West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City, before coming back to United ahead of this season.
Image from Sheffield United FC
Two Sheffield pubs applauded in Guinness’s “Harp Guide”
THE Dog and Partridge and The Grapes, both on Sheffield's Trippet Lane, have been recognised as two of the best pubs for Guinness in the UK.
The accolade has been awarded by Guinness in their first ever 'Harp Guide', which names the 35 best pubs in the country who sell their stout.
Sheffield Wire reporter, Rosie Peters-McDonald, visited both pubs on Friday (December 5) to ask staff and customers what makes them score top of the leader board when it comes to Guinness.
Landlord of the Dog and Partridge, Conor McGowan, originally from County Meath, told Sheffield Wire he could talk about what makes a good pint for weeks.
"It's a mixture of things," he said. "The quality of the beer, how it's served, the atmosphere, the history and tradition.
"Things like the length of line from the cellar to the bar, the hygiene of the glassware, the shelves, the line itself, the temperature, the gas pressure. There's a myriad of little tiny details that could all make it go wrong or right."
When asked about any local rivalry between his establishment and The Grapes, Conor was quick to deny any competition between the two.
"The city needs more good pubs, not less,"he said. "You can have the best pub in the world but if it's on its own it's never going to do what it needs to do. You need a circuit."
A group of young men in the corner of the pub had nothing but compliments for the Dog and Partridge's acclaimed Guinness. John, Matt, Ethan and Ben all agreed that it is the best in the city.
"The best Guinness outside of Dublin," one of them chimed in.
The city needs more good pubs, not less. You can have the best pub in the world but if it's on its own it's never going to do what it needs to do
At The Grapes, another Guinness drinker told Sheffield Wire he agreed with the recognition the pub has received from Guinness's Harp Guide.
Bartender Mia Hopkins said the pub's "nice, cosy atmosphere" has definitely given it some brownie points with its many Guinness drinkers.
She called the pub "authentic" thanks to its Irish landlady, describing her as the "sweetest woman".
With two pubs on the Harp Guide, Sheffield's Trippet Lane is, according to Guinness itself, one of the best streets for the Irish speciality in the country.
Joe Root clears final hurdle to batting immortality with century in Brisbane
Joe Root's magnificent innings under pressure at the Gabba confirmed his status as an all-time great with his first century in Australia.
A century down under was the one achievement missing from the glittering CV of England's all-time leading scorer in test matches, but Joe Root has now silenced any questions over his legacy.
The Sheffield-born batter came in under pressure with England 5-2 at the Gabba, but a classy 138 not out guided England to a competitive total of 334 all out.
The Australian press had been critical of Root in the build-up to the series, questioning his status as a batting great, even dubbing him "Average Joe."
This was despite his total of over 13,000 test runs, putting him second on the list of all-time run scorers and within striking distance of Sachin Tendulkar.
This pressure intensified after the first test of the series, in which Root registered a duck and then eight in his second innings.
His struggles were symbolic of an England batting performance many thought was careless and arrogant, with Root flashing at balls that could have been left comfortably on a fifth or sixth stump line.
Yet this time there was no such frenzy, with the Yorkshireman steering the ship for England in a characteristically cool and composed manner.
He formed a solid partnership with opening batter Zak Crawley, taking England to 122-2 before Crawley was dismissed on 76.
Root then remained a reassuring presence at the crease as wickets fell around him, before launching an aggressive counter-attack with tailender Jofra Archer worth 70 runs for the last wicket.
The attention will now turn to whether England's best batter can help deliver a first series win in Australia since 2010-11, and the first in his career.
He has a home Ashes to his name alongside a World Cup, but helping to deliver his team a treasured away victory in Australia would be a huge step towards cementing his legendary status.
Featured image: Courtesy of @Englandcricket on X
Sheffield Council face campaigners’ fury on proposed greenbelt housing
Local Sheffield activists have voiced their concerns regarding construction on Sheffield's greenbelt in a council meeting on 3 December, as Sheffield Council's proposed 'Local Plan' takes a step closer to being actualised.
The Save Chapeltown, Ecclesfield and Grenoside's Greenbelt Community Campaign has been campaigning for the prevention of the plan that would see 1,600 new houses being built on greenbelt land.
The proposed plan would take place in S5, S6 and S35, absorbing villages into the Sheffield urban area.
These communities have said they are threatened by the proposals, which campaign member Cheryl said: "Flew in the face of the lived reality of village communities."
At the council meeting at Sheffield Town Hall, the activists questioned the actions and responses of Head Councillor Tom Hunt, who has been at the forefront of the council's plan.
The campaigners pleaded with the council to reconsider the plans, even claiming Cllr Hunt acknowledged that with more time he and the council would have done things differently.
Gill Travis, 63, is the chair of the SCEGGC Campaign and was one of many activists who demanded transparency and honesty from the council regarding the process of choosing the sites.
The council had cited a lack of time and resources as reasons for struggling to hear the concerns of the residents, however according to a Freedom of Information request by the campaign the council chose the time period allocated themselves.
In the session, Cllr Hunt repeatedly assured the activists that the council had "followed appropriate procedures" and were "committed to building affordable housing across the city."
The freedom of information request also revealed the council had hidden 300 new documents from the residents until after the democratic process was complete.
The campaign deemed this a failure to reflect the council's triple lock commitment to listen to resident's concerns and act accordingly.
Clive Betts MP, of Sheffield South East, called on the council to think again, saying: "It's not too late to reflect that this is wrong, and that greenbelt development decisions must be made with greater consideration to communities."
Following the release of these new documents, the consultation has been reopened until 11 December 2025, with residents able to offer feedback on the new information until this date.
Four years after the murder of Sarah Everard, are women safe in public spaces?
It's been four years since Sarah Everard's murder but a Sheffield campaign group say women's safety is still a big concern.
Charlotte Mead, a member of the equality party in Sheffield, leads a vigil once a month outside the city's Town Hall to remember women who have been killed.
She said: "We know that this happens two to three times a week on average.
During the vigil, names of all women who have been killed as a result of male violence in the last month, are read out.
"What I think is important is that we do them consistently. We need to consistently keep remembering them. We need to keep bringing attention to it.
"There has never been a month we haven't had names to read out," says Charlotte. "I look forward to that day."
Following the shocking death of Sarah Everard and the conviction of her killer, Wayne Couzens, who was found guilty of murder, rape and kidnap, the Angiolini inquiry was launched in November 2021.
Led by Lady Elish Angiolini, the current Lord Clerk Register, the inquiry investigated how Couzens was able to carry out the brutal attack, as well as examining how to prevent sexual crimes against women in public spaces
The first report of part two of the inquiry came out this week (December 2 2025).
On the evening of March 3 2021, Sarah Everard, 33, was kidnapped by police officer Wayne Couzens, while she was on her way home from a friend's house in Clapham Common, London.
A week after her disappearance, Sarah's remains were found in Ashford, Kent during a police search. It was later revealed Couzens, who had been off duty at the time, unlawfully arrested Sarah under the pretence of breaking lockdown rules, before raping and killing her.
Evidence heard at the Old Bailey, during Couzen's high-profile trial, revealed his attack was premeditated plan.
The impact of Sarah Everard's death is still profoundly felt four years later. Her mother, Susan Everard, said in a statement to the Angiolini Report: "When I think of her, I can’t get past the horror of her last hours. I am still tormented by the thought of what she endured.
Sarah Everard's death has brought to light systematic issues. The college of policing has created a national policing culture and inclusion strategy, to last from 2025 to 2030, following the release of the first part of the Angiolini inquiry. The strategy will be focusing on culture change and building trust and will be adopted by police forces across the country.
The National Police Chief's council has responded to the Angiolini report. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Helen Millichap said: "Women and girls have the right to live their lives free from the fear of harm and it is our priority to keep them safe and reduce the prevalence of these crimes.
"Our focus is on equipping officers and staff to recognise and respond to sexual violence in public spaces, building on the effective progress already made for rape and serious sexual offence investigations, which is highlighted by Lady Elish Angiolini.
"To anybody who is experiencing these types of crime, we urge you to report to us. We are changing, and we welcome the focus this report brings to help us change more."
The statement also emphasised the importance of proactive work for police forces.
It is well known many women still fear for their safety in public. The Angiolini inquiry's public survey found around three in five women feel safe overall in public spaces. To then also claim women have to sacrifice their rights and freedom in public spaces as they fear for their own safety.
Charlotte Mead, who has been taking part in the Sheffield vigils since 2021, following the deaths of Sabina Nessa and Sarah Everard, with the purpose of remembering the women whose lives have been lost to male violence.
Ms Mead was working for Radio Sheffield when Sarah Everard was killed. She remembers receiving a call from a listener, telling her to leave the family alone to grieve in peace.
She told Sheffield Wire: "This is not an isolated incident. There will be another two or three families next week going through the same thing.
"And the week after that there will be another two or three families, and the week after that. This happens every single week. It's not just something that happens now and again."
The vigil is on the first Thursday of every month outside the Sheffield Town Hall, for 30 minutes, starting at 5.00pm, with Ms Mead emphasising the importance of not only holding a vigil when a woman is killed and it turns into high profile media case.