Network Rail plans new two-storey welfare facility at Sheffield depot

Network Rail has submitted plans to replace aging welfare facilities at its Blast Lane depot in Sheffield, next to Victoria Quays.

The proposal would see existing cabins and modular units demolished and replaced with a two-storey building featuring office space and meeting rooms, located alongside two railway lines. Sheffield City Council is expected to review the application on 9 February.

According to the application, the current temporary structures are “life-expired,” inefficient, and in some cases potentially unsafe due to corroded steel staircases. The modular units and shipping containers no longer meet operational or staff welfare requirements.

The new plans also include improved amenities for staff, such as a landscaped outdoor seating area, secure cycle storage, and reconfigured parking bays. Network Rail says the development would provide a modern, sustainable facility that better supports both operational needs and staff wellbeing.