User:Captain scarlet/Rebuilding of Sheffield in the 1950s

The Rebuilding of Sheffield in the 1950s was a rebuilding, rationalising and modernising scheme of the Sheffield Corporation in the wake of the destruction of the WWII bombings.

In December 1940, The City of Sheffield was badly damaged by 2 Luftwaffe raids. Parts of the city centre had been razed as well as the lower Don valley. It was decided to rebuild and replace public amenities.

Two books; "Sheffield Planned", published in 1945, traced the aims of the Corporation and "Sheffield, Emerging City", published in 1969, stated the accomplished work of the past years.

Synopsis
The Sheffield Blitz causes considerable damage to the city; 40000 persons were made homeless, 3000 homes were demolished and a further 3000 badly damaged. Parts of the city centre were razed, others would be struck off in daring plans.

Roads
The Sheffield road system was modified beyond recognition; changes that have continued until the last changes in road classification in 2008. The city centre was cut by large boulevards; dual carriageways with pedestrian-traffic segregation and tree planting. A semi-ring-road was built on the course of existing roads and new portions. The ring road was only completed in 2007. Attercliffe Common was upgraded with portions of dual carriageways and linked signals. A Sheffield Parkway, first a single carriageway then a dual carriageway with no at-grade junctions, was built between Sheffield city centre and the newly opened London-Yorkshire motorway, the M1 to urban motorway standards. The Mosborough Expressway was built to by-pass the villages of Woodhouse, Beighton and Aston-cum-Laughton. It was originally meant to by-pass Mosborough and link Eckington but was built towards junction 31 of the M1.

An urban clearway was created in the city centre as well as one hour and two hour metered zones. Multi-storey parking was introduced.

Railways
The 1960s saw the closure of most suburban stations in Sheffield on the Midland Main Line and the Woodhead Line. Engine sheds were closed and concentrated into one larger, modern, motive power depot in Tinsley.

Housing
Social housing

City Centre
markets, remodelling, theatres