Please note this consultation has now closed. The Outcome Report can be viewed here.

The information and proposals from the consultation can be found below.

To view all updates on this project please visit the Huddersfield Blueprint website. 

Kirklees Council, and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, are proposing to make it easier to walk, cycle or travel by bus between Huddersfield Rail Station and the places you live, learn, work, or visit in the town centre.

In October and November 2021, we asked for your feedback on the initial proposals. Since then, we have considered your feedback and undertaken further review of the designs. We have now made some changes and would like to hear your views on these updated proposals.

How can I get involved? 

We recommend you view the plans and read this page first to find out more about the scheme.

• Complete the survey by Friday 23 December to give us your feedback. Free prize draw: For your chance to win one of three 10 Day Saver Bus MCard tickets for ten days of unlimited bus travel in West Yorkshire (via the app) you can opt-in to our free prize draw
• Read our frequently asked questions (FAQs) or ask us a question
• Tell others about this consultation
• Join us at an event:

Background

The Huddersfield Rail Station Connections scheme complements of the wider 10-year Huddersfield Blueprint to help create a thriving, modern-day, family-friendly town centre with better connected, vibrant streets, walking and cycling routes and enhanced public transport.

One of six areas to be regenerated through the Huddersfield Blueprint is ‘The Station Gateway’, with the Grade I listed Huddersfield Rail Station at the heart of this location. In front of the station, St George’s Square is bordered by other historic buildings, including Estate Buildings and The George Hotel, the birthplace of rugby league.

Huddersfield Rail Station Connections will also help prepare for the Transpennine Route Upgrade. Network Rail is investing in the railway running through Huddersfield to Leeds, Manchester and beyond, to improve connectivity and support economic growth in the north.

Scheme aims

The aims of this scheme are to:

• Support increased future rail demand through Huddersfield by improving sustainable station access
• Make it easier for people to choose walking, cycling and bus travel in the town centre rather than car use
• Improve accessibility for people who walk or cycle in and around the centre of Huddersfield
• Create a more people-focused Huddersfield with better public spaces, supporting sustainable economic growth and investment

Which proposals need further consultation?

Options for the following areas were consulted on in 2021 and received mixed support. Further assessments have been carried out and we are now asking for views on the updated proposals in the four areas below.

Area 1a: Northumberland Street

• Wider pavements with trees and sustainable drainage
• Narrower road and lane widths and a new 20 mph speed limit
• Improved crossings for people who walk or cycle
• Bus stop retained
• Pay and display parking changed to loading and disabled parking

See how the changes to Northumberland Street would look here.

Area 1b: John William Street

• Wider pavements with trees and sustainable drainage
• Central hatching removed to narrow the road, while lane widths stay the same
• 20mph speed limit between Northumberland Street and Brook Street, along Wood Street
• Improved crossings for people who walk or cycle
• Segregated cycle track between Brook Street and Fitzwilliam Street (connecting with Area 2)
• Way-marked quiet cycling route along Wood Street between Northumberland Street and Brook Street
• Bus stops retained and repositioned
• Taxi rank retained
• Some loss of pay and display parking, with new disabled parking
• New loading bays

See how the changes to John William Street would look here.

Area 2: St John’s Road and Oxford Street

• Improved crossing of the ring road for people who walk or cycle
• New crossing of the ring road for people who cycle
• Segregated cycle track between Fitzwilliam Street and Beck Road

See how the changes to the ring road (Castlegate) would look here or Beck Road, just off the ring road, here.

Area 3a: Trinity Street - on-street improvements

• Two-way segregated cycle track along Trinity Street, between New North Parade and Greenhead Road
• Improved and new cycle crossings of the ring road, slip road and Trinity Street
• Improved and new crossings of the ring road and slip roads for people who walk

See how the changes to Trinity Street would look like here.

You can also view Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for further information.

We want to hear your views on our revised proposals. Please tell us what you think and complete our survey using the link below.

The consultation closed at 23:59 hours on Friday 23 December 2022.

Contact us and accessibility

If you would like to contact us, or request information in an alternative format, you can:

• Email yourvoice@westyorks-ca.gov.uk
• Phone MetroLine on 0113 245 7676
• Write to FREEPOST CONSULTATION TEAM WYCA

What has happened since the first consultation? 

Proposals that were supported during the first consultation, and are progressing to the next design stage are:

• Area 3b: Trinity Street - Underpass Improvements - to complement on-street plans
• Area 4: Brunswick Street Footpath Improvements - including adding a cycle track
• Area 5: Huddersfield Rail Station Entrance Hall - extension of the automatic ticket gate line
• Improving cycling provision on Willow Lane was also supported in the proposals for Area 2: St John’s Road. This is now being progressed as part of the A641 Bradford Road scheme.

Proposals for Area 6: Mobility Hubs were supported, however plans for these have been paused and will be revisited once a new transport strategy has been developed.

Removal of crossings in Area 3c: Trinity Street - Cycle link to Greenhead Park was not supported. An alternative route along Greenhead Road and Park Avenue may be considered as part of a future scheme for the A629 Halifax Road.

Transforming Cities Fund

The scheme is funded by the Transforming Cities Fund (TCF), a major programme of investment from central government which aims to provide more accessible, attractive and cleaner alternatives to car journeys.

Kirklees Council has secured £75m of TCF funding to help ‘level up’ the UK economy and redistribute wealth, jobs, and investment more equitably across England. It forms part of a wider plan to tackle the climate crisis, reduce car journeys and deliver a more sustainable future for the region. Up to £16m is allocated to Huddersfield Rail Station Connections, which forms just one of the transformational schemes to be delivered across Kirklees.

Next steps

We will consider all feedback gathered through this public consultation as we develop the next stage of more detailed design of our proposals.

If you want to be kept informed on the progress of this scheme, please register here: www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/register