Proposed schemes totalling £383m added to investment pipeline

Ten new schemes with a combined completed value of £383m have been added to West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s investment programmes.

The investment committee met yesterday to discuss adding the schemes to the Local Growth Fund and West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund programme. The committee members approved £4m of work to progress the developments as part of a forecasted £125m of Combined Authority funding.

Among the proposed schemes are a £22.9m, 400kph facility to test high-speed trains and high-speed rail infrastructure, an Inland Port at Stourton in Leeds and a Huddersfield Gateway project that would see re-development of the town’s station area including a former goods shed and yard.

Eight cycle infrastructure projects totalling 19km are also among the proposed schemes, along with plans to open up a number of sites in Halifax Town Centre for new housing, development of three key heritage buildings in Bradford city centre and creation of a new south-east gateway to Wakefield city centre are also among the new schemes being presented to the meeting.

Councillor Peter Box, chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority investment committee, said in 2017/2018 WYCA invested £150m of capital funding including £90m of funding through the Leeds City Region Growth Deal.

“To ensure we keep up the momentum on delivering projects through our Local Growth Fund and West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund, these 10 schemes would require an additional £125.2m of Combined Authority funding,” said Councillor Box.

“They are ambitious schemes designed to generate inclusive economic growth from which everyone across West Yorkshire and the City Region can benefit, and to improve our transport network to support that growth and connect people with jobs and training opportunities.”

Proposed schemes:

Bradford City Centre Heritage Properties – £31m scheme

Cycling schemes – £12m scheme

Enterprise Zones – £24m scheme

Gateway to Huddersfield, phase 1 – £5.5m scheme

Halifax Living Programme – £764,000 scheme

HS2 testing facility – £22.8m scheme

Leeds City Square

Leeds Inland Port – £3.3m facility

Rail Park & Ride  – £33m for 2,500 additional spaces

Wakefield City Centre South East Gateway – £41m scheme