FAQs

Calderdale Council, Kirklees Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority have developed a series of proposals for improvements along the A629 route from Halifax to Huddersfield that will provide the missing links to other scheme proposals such as Halifax Station Gateway, Elland Access Package, A629 Phase 1b Calder and Hebble Junction, A629 Phase 2 Halifax Town Centre, and A629 Phase 5 at Ainley Top Roundabout. The aim of this scheme is to improve accessibility for people walking, wheeling, cycling, and travelling on buses along the route between Halifax and Huddersfield.

Wheeling incorporates many methods for getting around, including using wheelchairs, mobility scooters or walking aids and travelling with a pram or pushchair.

This project includes: 

• Creation and improvement of cycle routes between Halifax and Huddersfield.
• Better connections to Calderdale and Kirklees hospitals, Halifax, Elland and Huddersfield railway stations, and Halifax, Elland, and Huddersfield town centres.
• Creation of greenways. A greenway is a general term used to describe a multi-user shared off-road path, which may incorporate existing Public Rights of Way, Byways and Bridleways.
• Improved bus journey times through improvements to existing signalised junctions.
• Real time passenger information on bus routes along the A629 corridor.
• Bus infrastructure to encourage bus operators to introduce an express service between Halifax and Huddersfield.
• Improved crossing facilities for pedestrians and cyclists at Southgate (Elland).
• New crossing facilities for walking, wheeling, and cycling.
• Improved journey times through West Vale and Elland.
• Improving walking, wheeling, and cycling links to local communities and amenities. 
• Variable message signs (VMS) are to be considered at strategic locations on the highway network.

• Economic growth: The project will improve access to Halifax and Huddersfield from the M62, encouraging investment and enabling access to land for housing and employment developments in Calderdale and Kirklees. 
• Sustainability: Improving the corridor to encourage more bus users, and significantly upgrading walking and cycling routes will make these actives modes more attractive for leisure and commuting. 
• Safety: Improved cycle and pedestrian routes will make for safer journeys. 
• Journey times: Reducing congestion through the encouragement of sustainable travel modes. 
• Cleaner environment: Active travel and public transport investment will encourage sustainable travel modes, leading to fewer emissions and reduced congestion.

Timelines for this project are yet to be confirmed and are subject to approval. We submitted the outline business case to the West Yorkshire Combined Authority in December 2018. During 2020 and 2021 we have been working on the design of the final business case proposals and the planning application for the project. The planning application is due to be submitted in Spring 2022 and if accepted, the final business case for the scheme is due to be approved in Summer 2022 with construction expected to commence in early 2023.

Funding is provided by the West Yorkshire Combined Authorities’ West Yorkshire-plus Transport Fund. £1bn is being invested over 10 years in more than 30 transport infrastructure schemes across West Yorkshire and York, designed to create around 20,000 new jobs and add £2.4 billion a year to the economy by the mid-2030s.

The Combined Authority was formed in April 2014 to be the driving force for economic growth across Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield districts and the City of York Council area. The West Yorkshire Combined Authority brings together key decision-making powers into a single body. Find out more: www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk.

The A629 Halifax to Huddersfield Improvements (Phase 4) have funding provisionally allocated from the Combined Authority as part of the West Yorkshire-plus Transport Fund. The funding will not be able to be spent on any other proposals or scheme. If the Combined Authority do not accept the business case, then the scheme cannot go ahead, and the money will be spent elsewhere in the region.  

The A629 Halifax to Huddersfield corridor is a key route providing a link to thousands of homes and jobs within Halifax and Huddersfield and direct access to the M62 connecting to the wider region, but the route is heavily congested. 

Out of 53 projects assessed for investment across West Yorkshire, the A629 improvements ranked 18 and forecast to create 1740 jobs by 2026, relieve congestion, reduce journey times for general traffic, and improve pedestrian and cycling accessibility. 

Investment has therefore been prioritised for the A629 between Huddersfield and Halifax Town centres.

Active travel (walking and cycling) and public transport investment will encourage sustainable travel modes, leading to fewer emissions and reduced congestion.

Air quality monitoring is carried out on a continuous basis within Air Quality Management Areas (AQMA’s) within Kirklees. There are two AQMA’s along the A629 in Kirklees, these being at the junctions of Edgerton Road/Blacker and Halifax Road/Yew Tree Road.

We will be looking at ways to improve the walking environment and make routes safer and more attractive to use. Walking routes will be provided both on and off the highway creating better connections to local amenities, such as schools, shops and Calderdale and Huddersfield Hospitals.

Changes to cycling infrastructure will improve journeys for people cycling from Halifax to Huddersfield through widening of existing routes, use of quiet on-road routes and the creation of off-road greenway routes to allow safer and more attractive routes that promote cycling. A greenway is a multi-user shared path which may incorporate existing Public Rights of Way, Byways and Bridleways. The cycle routes will also connect to other schemes in the area such as the Halifax Station Gateway scheme and the Elland Station Access Package.

Motorists will benefit from improved journey times through Elland and West Vale through the introduction of traffic signals that will also assist pedestrian/cyclist safety by introducing safe crossing. The scheme designers are also considering new Variable Message Signs (VMS) at strategic locations on the highway network that will keep motorists informed of traffic delays, events or other information whilst driving along the network.

Bus passengers will benefit from faster journey times due to the junction improvements along the corridor, and improved reliability of services as congestion will be reduced. Bus passengers will benefit from the introduction of real time passenger information (RTPI) which will explain when a bus is due at the bus stop, helping passengers to plan their journeys more accurately.

Improvements to bus infrastructure will encourage bus operators to consider an express bus service in the future. The introduction of an express bus service is a decision that will be made by the bus operators and will depend on customer need and the ongoing impacts of Covid-19.

A review of existing bus stops along the A629 corridor has been undertaken to confirm usage at each stop, feasibility of providing new shelters or real time passenger information (RTPI) and condition which indicates the following improvements:

• Various bus stop flag poles, shelters and RTPI that are in poor condition are to be replaced.
• RTPI are to be provided at bus stops where usage suggests it is required.
• Widening the northern section of the dumbbell roundabout of Elland Riorges/A629 Junction near Longside to provide a double length bus stop to accommodate future express bus provision (bus stop 450216674).
• Amendments to the existing layby on Elland Riorges link to improve safety and address safety concerns of the bus operator (bus stop 45022176).
• Amendments to the bus stop/zebra crossing on Southgate in Elland to improve safety due to their close proximity (bus stop 45018717).

Yes, there will be some changes to the road layout along the corridor to accommodate the cycle facilities, particularly at certain junctions - please refer to the detailed plans of the route for all changes to the road layouts.

Yes, various options have been assessed to minimise impacts but where restrictions are affected, updates to the regulation orders will consider the need for parking and deliveries.

Yes, some uncontrolled parking will be removed to make way for new road layouts. Existing permit; pay and display; and other controlled parking will remain wherever possible with alternative parking provided where affected.

There is potential for the scheme to impact upon trees along the route. Any impact to trees will be subject to detailed design and detailed surveys. 

Any habitat that is lost as a result of the scheme will be offset in order to achieve a 10% biodiversity net gain across the scheme.

The Elland Station Access package is proposing to provide improved access to the new station from across Elland, and from the wider area through improvements to the existing cycle network. The scheme will see two new cycle and pedestrian bridges crossing the River Calder and the Calder Hebble Navigation. There will also be improvements to the existing pedestrian and cycle routes.

Visit Elland Rail Station | Calderdale Next Chapter for more information about the proposals.

The A629 Halifax to Huddersfield Improvements (Phase 4) will connect the existing Hebble Trail which currently ends at Phoebe Lane, with Halifax Town Centre and Halifax Railway Station. The proposed extension will be a shared walking, wheeling, and cycling route to help improve connections for all users.

Where possible the proposed improvements comply with the Department for Transport Local Transport note 1/20 “Cycle Infrastructure Design” to provide segregated or shared use facilities within the existing highway. 

The design takes into consideration existing gradients and widths throughout Calderdale and Kirklees. However, in some locations it has not been possible to provide fully compliant walking, wheeling, and cycling facilities as this would require the removal of on street parking, acquiring land from residential and/or business properties, or the demolition of buildings.

The plans for the Halifax to Huddersfield Improvements (Phase 4) have altered slightly since the consultation in 2019. The changes are as follows:

• The Hebble Trail extension shown at the previous consultation in 2019 has changed. This change has been made to reduce impacts on the planned expansion of Phoebe Lane Industrial Estate, construction at the Former Gas Works site, and businesses along Siddal New Road/Water Lane.
• The proposals in West Vale have changed slightly since the previous consultation in 2019. Calder Street will be stopped up which will remove traffic joining the junction and improve safety and efficiency of the junction. We’ve done this to reduce impacts on businesses along Alfred Street and Church Street. 
• The proposals in Elland have been changed since the previous consultation in 2019 to provide better connections for walking, wheeling, and cycling users and safe crossing facilities. 
• Access to the proposed Elland Railway Station will be provided by the Elland Station Access Package of works. 
• The proposals at Ainley Top Roundabout have changed since the previous consultation in 2019. The proposed greenway between Ainley Top Roundabout and Ainley Bottom Industrial Estate is no longer included because of the land required to overcome the steep gradient of the hillside. The scheme focuses instead on improving the existing shared path next to the northbound A629. 
• The route from Huddersfield Town Centre through Birkby to Ainley Top Roundabout has changed since the previous consultation in 2019. The proposals now provide a better link to the local amenities in Birkby and avoid the need to buy land to widen public rights of way and reduce the potential impacts on local wildlife and residential properties. 
• The route from Huddersfield Town Centre through Lindley to Ainley Top Roundabout has changed since the previous consultation in 2019. The proposed route has been altered to avoid existing constraints along Lidget Street and St Stephen’s Fold. This will help provide safer cycling facilities along Occupation Street and Thornhill Road.

We welcome opinions and feedback from anyone. Whether you travel by public transport, walk, drive, cycle, are a business owner, local resident or just travel through the area. Your views and insight are valuable to us and will help shape our scheme.  

Please share this page with anyone you think would be interested in taking part in the public consultation. If you intend to submit a joint response on behalf of a group or organisation, please share the link with your colleagues or members so they can provide an individual response, should they wish to do so.

You can provide feedback on the proposals by filling in the survey on this page.

Alternatively, you can email any comments to rachel.pechey@mottmac.com Or you can call us on 0113 3946697

If you are struggling to see the plans or fill in the survey online, please contact us and we will arrange for paper copies of the plans and the questions to be sent to you along with a Freepost envelope to send back to us. You can contact us by emailing rachel.pechey@mottmac.com or you can call us on 0113 3946697.

By having your say and sharing your views we will be able to ensure that the priorities and thoughts you have on your area are considered in the project proposals as they are developed.

You can sign up to receive updates using the 'SUBSCRIBE' tool on the consultation page.

Further information about this scheme can be found at:

A629 Halifax to Huddersfield (Phase 4) | Calderdale Next Chapter 

Major transport schemes - A629 Halifax to Huddersfield | Kirklees Council

This scheme is a joint initiative between Kirklees and Calderdale Council. For ease and efficiency Calderdale is the promoting authority.