Planned £15.8m bus station moves a step closer

Plans for the new £15.8m Halifax Bus Station delivered by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority in partnership with Calderdale Council are due to move a step closer this week.

Pre-construction works will start on site from today – 2 March – in preparation for replacing the existing bus station with a state-of-the art facility.

These works will take place for a short period of time, with construction due to start in full this summer.

Alongside improved passenger facilities and better access to the town centre, plans for the bus station include environmentally friendly features, such as measures to enable the future introduction of electric bus charging points, bike parking and solar panels, as well as a living roof and green wall complete with plants.

Councillor Kim Groves, chairman of Transport for West Yorkshire Combined Authority, said: “We’re pleased to be working with Calderdale Council on this important scheme, which will make it easier for people to move around our region.

“In these challenging times, 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 job, training and education opportunities.

“Our region deserves a transport system which fills people with pride, with optimism and, above all, with the confidence that we have a clear direction of travel towards future prosperity for all, while helping us achieve our aim of becoming a net zero carbon economy by 2038.”

The first stage of work includes clearing space for essential temporary accommodation and services for bus passengers and construction workers.

Overall, the scheme will deliver more green space than the current arrangement with an extra 40 trees to be planted.

Calderdale Council’s cabinet member for regeneration and strategy, Cllr Jane Scullion, said: “The West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s work on Halifax Bus Station will complement other transport improvements around the town to provide a more coordinated travel network with better connections to the West Yorkshire region.

“I’m pleased preparation work for the scheme is now taking place and that work can begin later this year on a safer, more accessible bus station that meets the needs of existing and future passengers.”

The new bus station, which was granted planning permission last autumn, is part of a wider package of schemes to transform the way people travel in and around the town.

It is being delivered with money from the Leeds City Region Transforming Cities Fund, which is helping to transform gateways to towns and cities across the region by making it easier to walk, cycle and use public transport.

Willmott Dixon will be undertaking the construction work, which is expected to continue until late 2022.