£150m unlocked for extra transport investment
A further £150m will be granted to the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership so it can continue its work to improve the region’s transport network.
The combined authority has passed a Government “gateway review”, looking at how it has invested over £180m over the past five years in improvements through its West Yorkshire-plus Transport Fund.
As a result, the Government has allocated a further £150m which will be invested from 2021 to 2026 to improve public transport, cycle and walking routes in West Yorkshire, as well as reduce congestion and air pollution.
This funding is in addition to the Transforming Cities Fund, a £317m package of investment secured by West Yorkshire’s council leaders as part of the landmark devolution deal, agreed with Government in March 2020.
Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and leader of Bradford Council, said: “We welcome this strong endorsement, which shows that the combined authority is investing public money wisely.
“By delivering schemes like new rail stations, park and ride facilities and improved cycle paths, we are making a real difference to people’s quality of life.
“We have made excellent progress over the past five years, thanks to the investment we have been able to make into our communities through the Growth Deal, and we will be building on this as we deliver the West Yorkshire Devolution Deal.
“Given the times we are living through, such investment is needed more than ever.”
Roger Marsh, chair of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership and the NP11 group of Northern local enterprise partnerships, said: “The role the LEP played in unlocking this significant funding shows what great things we can do when we work in partnership, and partnership working will be absolutely vital in our response to Covid-19.
“As we phase out of lockdown, our support must include robust plans to kick-start our region’s economic recovery and help businesses bounce back as quickly as we can, while remaining safe and secure, so we can build an even more vibrant, successful region.”
Councillor Judith Blake, leader of Leeds City Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority transport lead, said: “Covid-19 is the greatest challenge most of us have seen during our lifetimes.
“The significant extra funding we have been able to unlock means we can continue to invest and support our region’s economy with better access to safe public transport and more space for people to walk and cycle as they return to work.”
Cllr Denise Jeffery, leader of Wakefield Council and chair of the combined authority’s Investment Committee, said: “These investments in our region’s transport infrastructure are a vital part of our efforts to support jobs, growth and skills and will prove even more valuable as we help the region recover as quickly and as strongly as possible from the devastating impact of Covid-19.”
In its first five years, the West Yorkshire-plus Transport Fund has supported 54 projects, spending over £127m on improved transport infrastructure.
Schemes the combined authority and partner councils have delivered include three new rail stations, as well as major road improvements and significant new Park & Ride schemes.
The 1,000-space Temple Green Park & Ride in Leeds, for example, has helped increase bus passenger numbers, reduce journey times, traffic volumes and demand for parking spaces in Leeds city centre.
The latest funding – together with the £317m Transforming Cities Fund transport investment confirmed through the West Yorkshire devolution deal – will see schemes such as Castleford station gateway, Hard Ings Road in Keighley, Mytholmroyd car park and East Leeds Orbital route get the green light.
