Once Dubbed the “Ugliest Town,” Sheffield Now Ranks as the UK’s Most Sustainable City
Sheffield, once labelled by George Orwell in 1936 as the “ugliest town in the old world,” has undergone a dramatic transformation. Orwell described the city as a place dominated by “monstrous chimneys pouring forth smoke,” a nod to its industrial past.
Fast forward to today, and Sheffield has earned the title of the greenest city in the UK. Researchers from the University of Southampton conducted a study ranking the country’s 25 largest urban centres based on sustainability, with Sheffield coming out on top.
What’s behind the Steel City’s rise to the top? A significant portion of Sheffield sits within the Peak District, offering vast open spaces. The city boasts millions of trees, and its efforts in renewable energy production are notably high. These elements, along with its historical shift from heavy industry to sustainability, have helped Sheffield earn its new reputation.
