FAQs

The A62 to Cooper Bridge Corridor Improvement Scheme concept is a series of highways improvements at the Cooper Bridge and Bradley Road junctions and surrounding roads. It’s designed to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion around the Cooper Bridge roundabout, including providing better access to Huddersfield and the M62.

Kirklees Council has a statutory duty under the Traffic Management Act to consider options that improve traffic flow. The Cooper Bridge junction is one of the key routes into Huddersfield, to and from the M62, Dewsbury and, our closest city, Leeds. This area is one of the busiest in the district for all types of transport with no capacity to accommodate more traffic unless we make changes. The existing road network is unable to cope at peak times, which is leading to significant delays and congestion. When the current issues are added to the estimated natural growth and future development needs it becomes clear that something needs to be done.

The future development growth includes employment and housing growth with the Local Plan highlighting 31,140 new homes to be delivered over the plan period (2031). This includes a number of site allocations within the vicinity of Cooper Bridge. The most significant of which is land north of Bradley Road (HS11) which allocated 1,950 additional homes.

Whilst there was support for the proposal in 2021 which included a series of highway improvements to the Bradley and Cooper Bridge junctions, this is no longer deliverable due to escalating costs.

Kirklees Council have considered numerous options in order to ensure we deliver the best solution we can. Our proposal is still at a conceptual stage, but we propose to build on what we have learnt from the previous engagement in 2021 by reducing the impact on trees and introducing bus priority. We will also look to phase the works with this consultation focussing on improvements at Cooper Bridge junction only. Works at Bradley junction will be looked at as part of a future phase.

Rather than presenting a single preferred option which we did in the 2021 consultation we have presented three different layouts focussing only on the Cooper Bridge junction stopping north of the railway bridge. The three layouts include a roundabout, gyratory and T junction. All three layouts look to:

• enhance Cooper Bridge junction by providing additional capacity and optimise signal timings to reduce congestion 
• provide segregated cycling facilities around Cooper Bridge junction
• provide new improved footways and shared space to benefit pedestrians and cyclists 
• enhance pedestrian and cycling crossing facilities by providing new signal-controlled crossing points
• learn from the 2021 consultation feedback by:
  1. introducing bus priority in the form of a bus gate
  2. reducing the impact on trees compared to the 2021 preferred option

The proposed cycle infrastructure to be delivered as part of phase 1 enables cyclists to cross the junction safely regardless of which direction they are coming from. This links into existing cycle lanes to the east of the junction on Leeds Road and Huddersfield Road. 

As part of phase two (Bradley Road junction improvements) we will look to join the cycle network south of Cooper Bridge on to existing cycle lanes.

The main benefits of the scheme will be to:

• relieve congestion and improve journey times for all vehicles including buses
• improve road safety
• improve facilities for cyclists and pedestrians
• support the improvement of air quality
• support local economic and housing growth

We are assessing options in accordance with the Department for Transport (DfT) guidance, this allows us to understand the value for money of all options before selecting a preferred option. For this engagement we have presented three options (layouts) which we think will help resolve congestion issues within the area and support growth. However, we need your opinion on which you think is the best and if there is anything we can improve on. Your opinion matters and it will help us evaluate each option and come to a decision on which is the best performing option.

Yes, once we have secured funding to proceed with the scheme we will develop our design and undertake more surveys to help us prepare our planning application.  We expect to submit our application in 2025.   Subject to our application being approved and meeting any conditions associated with the planning approval we aim to begin construction in 2027.

Yes, we have already been in touch with landowners who will be affected by our plans and we will continue to liaise with them directly as our designs progress.

The John Cotton planning application looks to build an industrial unit on the former water treatment works. It is subject to a planning application and so would require planning approval if they were to undertake any changes to the existing highway. However, it is anticipated that our proposed road improvement will be constructed before the John Cotton works begin. The John Cotton works would have to satisfy the planning authority if they were to undertake any amendments to our built scheme and they would need to maintain access to existing properties on Leeds Road which use the John Cotton entrance.

The roads in this area already suffer from flooding from the nearby river and waterways during periods of extreme rainfall.   Whilst we are still at an early stage in developing our design we don’t currently expect our proposals to make this flooding any worse.  

We will work with Yorkshire Water and the Environment Agency as we develop our plans.  Our designs will include a Sustainable Drainage System as part of our design at Cooper Bridge which will allow us to store and control the drainage of surface water and direct water away from known flooding areas to help minimise the impacts of rainfall on the road.

We have undertaken initial assessments to understand the impacts of our proposals on local air quality. These consider the difference between air quality with and without the scheme and have shown the scheme will not have a significant impact on air quality.

The Cooper Bridge area is currently declared as an Air Quality Management Area due to high levels of Nitrogen Dioxide. However, along with other council initiatives and with improvements in vehicle efficiency, these levels are predicted to have significantly reduced by 2028 when the scheme is expected to open. This is predicted to be the case whether the scheme is constructed or not. 

Our air quality assessments will be updated as we develop our scheme design.  Air pollution levels will also continue to be monitored before and after the scheme as part of the council’s statutory requirement and its ongoing commitment to improve air quality across Kirklees.

It should also be noted that the scheme includes improved cycling and pedestrian facilities to encourage more use of sustainable modes of transport which will also help to make air quality better. 

Additionally, we will install new signal technology to manage traffic which will allow better information to be communicated to drivers and vehicles to be prioritised to further help improve air quality via existing variable message signs.

We are currently in an early stage of developing the scheme and have only undertaken initial environmental assessments at this stage. We have also listened to 2022 consultation feedback by reducing the impact on existing trees through our new designs.    

 Our initial environmental assessment suggests all options will have an impact on existing woodlands requiring the removal of trees. Option A will also impact on existing *Tree Preservation Order* (TPO) trees. The impact of each option is summarised within the environmental impact map which can be found by clicking here.

If Kirklees Council are successful in securing funding to progress the scheme, we will develop a more detailed design before undertaking our full environmental assessment. We will also ensure that where possible we will mitigate impacts on the environment.

*A Tree Preservation Order (or “TPO”) is an order made by a Local Planning Authority (“LPA”) to protect a tree or trees with amenity value to the community*

Including development and delivery, the project will cost in the region of £53.5 million.

The project is to be funded by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority. Following this engagement, Kirklees Council has to submit an outline business case followed by a full business case to the Combined Authority for their approval and for the scheme to proceed.  If successful, we will receive the funding allocated to the scheme through the West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund.

The Combined Authority was formed in April 2014 to be the driving force for economic growth across the West Yorkshire and the City of York Council area. The West Yorkshire Combined Authority brings together key decision-making powers into a single body. To find out more visit www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk.

The A62 to Cooper Bridge Corridor Improvement scheme has funding provisionally earmarked from the West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund and we wouldn’t be able to spend it on anything else.  If the Combined Authority do not accept the scheme`s business case, then the scheme cannot go ahead and the money earmarked for this project will be allocated elsewhere in the region, not necessarily in Kirklees.

Subject to securing all necessary planning consents and funding approval from the Combined Authority it is anticipated that construction work will commence in 2027.

Your feedback will help determine the best performing option which will be presented as part of an Outline Business Case. Once Kirklees Council secures approval of the Outline Business Case they will progress with their detailed design on the preferred option which will be presented as part of a Full Business Case. Following approval of the Full Business Case a contractor will build the road improvement which is anticipated to be completed in 2028.

This is a busy area of the road network, and we will need to carefully manage how the scheme is constructed to help to minimise the disruption to the travelling public.  

However, some preparatory works will be needed, such as diverting utilities equipment, to enable us to construct the scheme. 

We will also need to coordinate our plans with Network Rail to enable us to construct the scheme whilst they are making improvements to the Transpennine Route without causing unnecessary disruption.

To construct the scheme, we may need to relocate the Dumb Steeple.  As it is registered as a Grade II listed building, we will need consent from Historic England to allow us to do this.

We want the obelisk to be safely accessible for the public to visit whilst remaining as close to its original location as possible, so we will work with both Historic England and the Kirklees Council Conservation Officer to identify a suitable location if we are required to move it.

The two new parking bays are accessed via the John Cotton entrance. They are intended for number 1 and 2 Leeds Road. Our proposal takes land from the Leeds Road property which could potentially have been used for parking. We have therefore maintained the access to the John Cotton entrance for the benefit of the two properties and formalised parking in accordance with the Design Manual for Streets standards.

Yes, this is something we have carefully considered. We have future proofed our design to ensure that any improvements we propose as part of future phases (Bradley Road junction improvements) will not require design changes at Cooper Bridge. We have also done some initial modelling of phase 1 (this scheme), and against the full scheme, to test if our proposed design for Cooper Bridge can handle the full scheme impact. We have also made sure that our improvements at Cooper Bridge junction will not exacerbate delays anywhere else on the network.

Yes. The scheme crosses the boundary between Calderdale and Kirklees Councils.   Because the most significant changes are within the Kirklees boundary, Kirklees Council are leading on the development of the scheme. However, we are working closely with colleagues at Calderdale Council to ensure the scheme is successfully delivered.

The preferred option which we consulted on in 2021 included improvements at Cooper Bridge and Bradley Road junction. This generated transport benefits of £106 million. We are now proposing to phase the works with phase 1 indicative transport benefits being around £60 million for all three options. Within the value for money category, it is categorised as ‘high’.

Your comments will help inform proposals to address not only the underlying highway issues but also the needs of local residents, business owners and commuters. Your views will directly contribute to our decision-making as we take into consideration what you have put within your survey response. This includes what you consider to be the best performing option from the three layouts which have been presented to you, and also any additional comments you have left.

We welcome the opinions and feedback of anyone. Whether you travel by public transport, walk, drive or cycle, are a business owner or just travel through the area, your views and insights are valuable to us. Please share the link www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/CooperBridge with anyone you think would be interested in taking part. If you intend to submit a joint response on behalf of a group/organisation, please share the link with your colleagues so they can have the opportunity to provide an individual response.

The consultation is running until 8^th December 2024. Please make sure you complete the survey before this date.

You can take part by visiting our website: www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/CooperBridge, to review all the latest information and complete the online questionnaire. It you require any information in a different format you can contact MetroLine on 0113 245 7676.

Yes. There will be an opportunity to attend a drop-in session hosted at Battyeford Sporting Club where individuals can ask the project team questions face to face, and questionnaires are available to be dropped off in a response box or filled out later and posted via a pre-paid envelope. Further details regarding this drop-in session can be found by clicking on the following link: www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/CooperBridge.

After the consultation period closes on 8^th December, responses to the questionnaire will be collated and analysed. A summary report will be prepared and posted on www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/CooperBridge and www.kirklees.gov.uk/majorschemes.

We will consider the feedback, and this will help inform our decision making for a preferred option. We will update the webpage with all the latest information regarding the scheme. You can also sign up to our project page on Your Voice to be kept up to date in future.