City regions bid for share of £840m fund for transport plans

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Sheffield City Region are urging the Government to back ambitious plans for major transport network upgrades.

A bid for a share of the Government’s £840m Transforming Cities Fund has been submitted by the Combined Authority. It sets out proposals to improve public transport along four key routes in the Leeds City Region and upgrade connections to eight rail stations.

If successful, the bid will allow the Combined Authority to develop detailed plans over the next six months.

The bid is focused on transforming transport connections for those communities most in need of access to jobs, services and education. Priorities set out in the submission include creating healthy streets, supporting cycling and walking as well as exploring the opportunities offered by new technology.

A key focus of the submission is the need for investment at Leeds Station to ensure it is ready for the arrival of HS2 and seamlessly integrates high speed services with Northern Powerhouse Rail, upgraded local services and other transport connections.

The bid is supported by the University of Leeds.

Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and leader of Bradford Council, said: “We have a strong track record of delivering major transport projects. We have opened three new rail stations, including Low Moor and Apperley Bridge in my own district, the Bradford-Leeds Cycle Superhighway, new roads, park-and-ride schemes and supported better bus services.

“Our ambitious programme of investment continues through our £1 billion West Yorkshire-plus Transport Fund but we know we can deliver more with the right Government support.

“Our Transforming Cities Fund bid is a real opportunity for Government to invest here to connect everyone in the region with economic growth.”

Cllr Judith Blake, leader of Leeds City Council and member of the Combined Authority, added: “Our Transforming Cities Fund bid builds on the improvements we are already making, including through the Connecting Leeds programme delivering new rail stations, more reliable bus services and reduced congestion.

“To achieve the better standard of living and inclusive growth we want for all our communities and to maximise the benefits of HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail, we need investment on a truly transformational scale and that is the ambition set out in our bid.”

The four key routes that are the focus of the submission are:
•         Leeds – Bradford – Halifax (Calder Valley)
•         Bradford to Dewsbury through North Kirklees
•         Wakefield/Barnsley – Leeds
•         Five Towns – Leeds
The eight stations are:
•         Leeds Station Gateway
•         Bradford Interchange and Bradford Forster Square
•         Halifax
•         Harrogate
•         Huddersfield
•         Selby
•         York

Meanwhile, a bid to secure millions of pounds to improve transport in South Yorkshire, grow the economy and support people to access new jobs has also been submitted to Government by Mayor Dan Jarvis.

Jarvis, who is taking the lead on transport issues and is set to become a Transport for the North board member later this month, has set out a vision to tackle the region’s transport problems.

He said: “This is an important time for South Yorkshire. We are experiencing strong economic and jobs growth, we are developing our advanced manufacturing and engineering capabilities and we have globally significant assets such as Doncaster Sheffield Airport and the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District.

“But, quite simply our transport system and its supporting infrastructure is not fit for the 21st century. Our urban centres are poorly connected, residents struggle to access major employment sites and land available for development is constrained by congestion.

“These failures in the transport system limit the flow of ideas, people and business between our urban areas and major employment sites. It is a drag on our productivity, competitiveness and a waste of the talent and skills of our workforce. The current problems must be resolved as soon as possible, which is why we have set out these ambitious but deliverable plans.”

At the heart of the bid, which is supported by all four local councils, is the proposal to develop a new Global Innovation Corridor that stretches across the region, linking people to key sites including Sheffield city centre, Doncaster Sheffield Airport, the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham and Barnsley’s Digital Campus.

In addition, the bid seeks to improve connectivity for communities and businesses across the Dearne Valley.

Jarvis added: “Our major assets and capabilities provide a strong foundation for future growth. But we must make sure that our residents can get to the jobs being created, so we need effective public transport, which is affordable, well integrated and provides the services that people need.

“We must tackle congestion on our roads to improve journey times and make them more reliable. And I am determined to support active travel, by improving cycling and walking routes across the region.

“That is why it is essential that the Sheffield City Region receives a fair share of the Transforming Cities Fund. We have put forward a strong evidence based bid to the Department for Transport and I will be championing our case with Government Ministers.”

The bid is supported by transport operators and private sector partners, including major investors Peel Group, Harworth Group and McLaren.