FAQs

Bradford Council is responsible for delivering the scheme.

Bradford Council is working in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

The Combined Authority works with local councils and businesses to ensure that everyone in our region benefits from a strong, successful economy and a modern, accessible transport network.

This scheme is located on two main roads outside of the Bradford Ring Road towards Shipley:

- A650 Manningham Lane / Keighley Road / Bradford Road (A650 Manningham Lane Route)

- A6037 Canal Road / Valley Road (A6037 Canal Road Route).

The Phase 1 consultation took place from 18 December 2018 until 8 February 2019. Following this, the feedback was processed and used to inform the developing proposals for the A6037 Canal Road Route and A650 Manningham Lane Route. The business case has also been developed and received outline approval in December 2019.

Phase 2A is a public consultation which covers the A650 Manningham Lane Route from A6177 Hamm Strasse in the City Centre to A6038 Otley Road in Shipley.

We are holding an interim public consultation (Phase 2A) to allow members of the public to help inform the developing detailed design, with another opportunity proposed in late summer / early autumn (Phase 2B) on the full scheme, including the A6037 Canal Road Route. All content covered in the Phase 2A consultation will also be made available for the public to comment on again in autumn (Phase 2B).

The main objectives of this scheme are to:

• reduce traffic congestion and journey times
• assist with the delivery of new homes, extension of employment space and creation of new jobs in the area
• improve road safety
• improve air quality
• encourage use of more sustainable modes of transport such as buses, cycling or walking

Development of the scheme has continued throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly in response to the renewed drive for improved pedestrian and cycling facilities.

The project team is interested in getting feedback to assist with the scheme development and as the Phase 2A is an interim public consultation we believe this can be undertaken appropriately using a digital consultation at this time; with the understanding that members of the public will have another opportunity in late summer / early autumn to comment on the proposals during Phase 2B. Hard copies, translated and large print versions will be made available on request.

Unfortunately, due to social distancing guidelines still being in force, we are unable to hold drop in events or do other face to face consultation so this consultation will mainly be digital. We are taking steps to make sure people in the local community know about the consultation and can have their say by putting up posters, posting leaflets and by providing information to local ward councillors. There will be another opportunity for people to have their say in the autumn, when we hope we will be able to do more face to face engagement. If this still isn’t possible then we will look at other ways that we can make sure everyone has the chance to give their views.

The scheme is currently under development. The initial proposal development was completed in December 2019 and the detailed design stage will be approved in 2022.

Due to the size and complexity of the proposed works the improvements may be introduced in phases, with some construction work starting as early as 2022. It is expected that all roadworks will be completed by 2025.

This project has received funding through the West Yorkshire-plus Transport Fund, and the Leeds City Region Growth Deal - a £1 billion package of Government investment through the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP), delivered by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to accelerate growth and create jobs across Leeds City Region.

The Leeds City Region covers the local authority areas of Barnsley, Bradford, Calderdale, Craven, Harrogate, Kirklees, Leeds, Selby, Wakefield and York.

This West Yorkshire-plus Transport Fund will also be used to introduce a number of other transport improvements in Bradford district over the next few years.

The total cost of this scheme is estimated in the region of £47 million.

For Bradford Council see: https://bradford.moderngov.co.uk/ieDocHome.aspx?Categories=.

For the Combined Authority see: www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/projects/west-yorkshire-plus-transport-fund/bradford-to-shipley-corridor (click link to business case summary on web page).

The scheme is closely linked to the Shipley and Canal Corridor Area Action Plan, which sets out the Council’s long-term plans for economic and housing growth, and associated infrastructure in this regeneration area. This plan can be found at: www.bradford.gov.uk/planning-and-building-control/planning-policy/shipley-and-canal-road-corridor-area-action-plan-dpd/.

There are many local amenities in this area that could be accessed by walking such as schools, colleges, the football stadium, supermarkets and clinics. Currently, accessing these amenities by walking is made difficult by having to cross two major roads, the railway line and Bradford Beck. We want to make it easier for people to travel across the valley, particularly using sustainable forms of transport like using public transport, walking and cycling.”

Bradford is preparing an air quality plan which will protect and enhance the health of everyone who lives, works or spends time in the district including the Bradford Shipley Route area. Those details can be found on the following website: www.bradford.gov.uk/breathe-better-bradford/breathe-better-bradford.

We anticipate that this Bradford Shipley Route Improvement scheme will help improve air quality in the area by encouraging more people to travel sustainably, by bus, bike or by foot, instead of by car. Bradford Councils Air Pollution Team is gathering data on current air quality, and after further detailed modelling work we will be able to confirm what the overall air quality improvements from this scheme will be.

For the A650 Manningham Lane Route the proposals are intended to remove non-local traffic from this route which would improve air quality for the many residences and businesses along and near to this route.

Bradford Beck starts as a number of different open streams which run towards Bradford City Centre where they join. Bradford Beck is then constrained by manmade features for much of its course until it meets the River Aire in Shipley. More information can be found at https://bradford-beck.org/ (External link).

In consultation with the local bus operators, it was determined that the bus lanes are not operating effectively, and it was agreed that they would be removed as part of the scheme. It should be noted that the removal of non-local traffic will improve the operation and reliability of bus services along the A650 Manningham Lane Route.

The A650 Manningham Lane Route works in tandem with A6037 Canal Road Route. The reductions in capacity along the A650 Manningham Lane Route are proposed to reallocate traffic onto the additional capacity which would be provided for A6037 Canal Road Route.

Strategic transport modelling will be undertaken to assess the impacts of the proposals.

Encouragement of increased cycling use instead of driving is a high priority as it improves air quality, road noise, impacts on climate change and public health.

Connectivity of segregated cycling facilities is an important factor in encouraging new users, as it is safer to use. A high proportion of this type of facility for a journey is key for encouraging less experienced cyclists into cycling. Along the A650 Manningham Lane Route the segregated cycling facility will connect into many residential and commercial properties, and other facilities such as schools and parks.

A two-way segregated cycling facility with priority crossings at junctions is proposed along the length of the A650 Manningham Lane Route. The proposals, including connectivity to the wider network, are to be further developed during the detailed design phase

The proposals and survey for Phase 2A can be downloaded via www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/bradfordshipley.

We are encouraging people to register on www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk to be kept involved and informed about the launch of the Phase 2B public consultation in late summer / early autumn 2020.

Public consultation on the proposals contained in the scheme will take place from 8 June until 5 July 2020 (4 weeks).

Posters and electronic messaging boards are being provided in the area around the scheme. Hard copies of the consultation materials are available and can be requested using the MetroLine telephone number 0113 245 7676.

You can register to follow the project and have your say in future consultations at www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/bradfordshipley. 

We will publish a report on the consultation response on this website.

You can also contact your local ward councillor.

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority has been commissioned to analyse responses and produce the final outcome report.

Please contact us via www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/bradfordshipley if you have any concerns regarding the scheme. The comments received during this consultation will be taken into account during the design development.  Further face to face opportunities to comment on the proposals will be provided within Phase 2B of the public consultation subject to restrictions regarding COVID-19.

The Abnormal loads route along the A650 Manningham Lane corridor is the only route currently suitable within the Bradford district to access the North, and accommodates a significant number of abnormal loads.

Diverting onto any other route would need significant funding to bring up to a standard suitable for abnormal loads.  For example, diverting abnormal loads onto Canal Road / Valley Road would cost in the region of £19m - £35m mainly to upgrade / replace existing structures (particularly over the railway line at Valley Road) to accommodate the additional weight required for abnormal loads.  This would require a 40% to 70% increase of the current scheme budget, for which funding is not currently available.

Other routes have been explored but these also have structures which would require upgrading and similar funding issues.