£10.6m worth of funding approved to support pandemic recovery

Projects to deliver homes, improve transport connections and help people who need additional support to travel will progress with support from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority. 

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority Investment Committee has agreed to fund schemes, which together will deliver more than 900 new homes, cut carbon emissions and improve road safety.

Investment agreed by the committee includes: 

• £1.8m to progress the reconstruction of the A6025 in Brighouse. This will repair the existing A6025 Park Road, which is currently closed to all traffic following a landslip. Work will improve journey times, reduce carbon emissions and better connect local residents to jobs, education and leisure opportunities. The cash comes from the Getting Building Fund – a Government programme to boost the economy in response to the COVID-19.

• £2.76m towards housing development at Points Cross in Leeds. This development is in the heart of South Bank in Leeds City Centre and will deliver 928 homes, including 311 affordable homes. The scheme will also build new public walking and cycle routes, as well as commercial space. Points Cross will be funded by the Government’s Brownfield Housing Fund – a programme designed to build more homes by bringing more brownfield land into development.

• £5.43m to progress the Fink Hill Corridor Improvement Programme in Leeds. Work will remodel lanes and junctions, introducing more pedestrian crossings. The scheme is set to make the junction safer for road users and pedestrians, reduce congestion and decrease overall carbon emissions. The scheme is at the fourth stage of planning, with support from members meaning the scheme will progress to the next stage.

• £785,000 to progress the Door–to–Door Community Transport Service. The service will match people to suitable, safe, and affordable transport. This will be achieved by signposting people to existing providers that can meet their needs, by connecting people with a volunteer travel companion, or by enabling them to book a journey with a local community transport provider. A pilot for this scheme is due to start in May 2021 in South Leeds.   

Councillor Denise Jeffrey, chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Investment Committee and leader of Wakefield Council, said: “Schemes like these are central to our drive to making sure people are better connected to work, education and leisure opportunities, as well reducing the region’s carbon emissions and boosting the delivery of urgently needed housing. 

“Through these projects, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority is continuing to demonstrate its commitment to not only building a stronger and growing economy that works for all, but also to improving the day-to-day lives of our communities.”