Authority to consider massive proposed investment in sustainable transport

Nearly £43m worth of sustainable transport schemes are among the items to be considered by members of a West Yorkshire Combined Authority committee.

Members will be asked to progress three transport schemes at the Place, Regeneration and Housing Committee meeting on 7 February.

These include:

• A £22,560,216 scheme (including £20,502,216 of Combined Authority funding) to boost walking and cycling access to Selby rail and bus stations, as well as improving the facilities at both sites.
• A £4,970,541 project to create a new Heckmondwike bus hub with six stands and one layover bay, and a new building with a waiting area, offices, accessible toilets and a changing places room.
• A £15,380,000 scheme (including £6,430,000 of Combined Authority funding) to pedestrianise Leeds City Square, as well as bus, signal, traffic management and signage improvements on surrounding streets.

Councillor Denise Jeffery, chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Place, Regeneration and Housing Committee and leader of Wakefield Council, said: “It is more important than ever that we continue to invest in a modern, accessible transport network, which supports economic growth by connecting more people with jobs, training and education, while also helping tackle the climate emergency.

“We need to reduce car trips by 21% and increase cycling trips by 2,000%, walking trips by 78%, bus trips by 39% and rail trips by 53% if we are to hit our ambitious target of becoming a net zero carbon economy by 2038.  These important schemes will help us do that.”

Plans to build 69 new affordable homes on brownfield land in Castleford and 37 new affordable homes on brownfield land in Pontefract are also on the agenda.

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “In my manifesto, I committed to improving our transport network, connecting more people with opportunities, building 5,000 new homes and helping tackle the climate emergency.

“Making sure everyone has access to good, affordable housing and transport is absolutely crucial in ensuring all of us – our people, our communities, our businesses – get to where we want to be as a region.”

The Selby Station Gateway and Heckmondwike Bus Hub schemes will be delivered through the Leeds City Region Transforming Cities Fund programme, which intends to make it easier to walk, cycle and use public transport.

The Leeds City Centre Package – City Square Plus scheme is being delivered through the West Yorkshire Plus Transport Fund.