FAQs

The Dewsbury-Batley-Chidswell corridor is a key route through north Kirklees with high volumes of traffic. It covers a large area, extending northwards from Dewsbury Ring Road, via the A652 Bradford Road, through to Batley town centre. It also includes links eastwards to the A653 Leeds Road, via Soothill Lane and Grange Road. An overview of the route is viewable here. 

There were several options considered for the scheme which were evaluated against the scheme’s objectives, expected costs and benefits. The options selected meet the original objectives of the scheme, are more likely to offer the best value for money and take account of wider social and environmental constraints. 

The £6m scheme is funded by the Transforming Cities Fund. This is provided by the Department for Transport following a successful bidding process. The programme aims to provide improved infrastructure for active and sustainable travel, such as walking, cycling and public transport.  

The scheme is not funded by council tax and will not impact other Kirklees Council funding streams. 

The following proposals received support during the first consultation. They have been progressed through a further design review. This second stage consultation gives you an opportunity to review the updated designs. 

The Dewsbury-Batley-Chidswell Sustainable Travel Corridor scheme will contribute to Kirklees Council’s 2038 carbon neutral vision, and the Combined Authority’s plan for a net zero carbon economy by 2038.  

The scheme achieves this primarily by encouraging more people to walk, cycle and use the bus by making these options more reliable, attractive, and achievable. Green infrastructure, such as trees, landscaping, and sustainable drainage, will also be included on the Greenway sections of the route. 

The scheme aims to improve bus reliability along the corridor. To reduce delays and improve journey times, we are looking to introduce bus priority at key junctions through new technology on the approaches and at traffic lights.  

We are also proposing to upgrade some bus stops to improve the experience for people waiting for buses. This includes real time information (RTI) updates to inform passengers when the next bus is arriving. 

This will provide a seamless connection from A653 Leeds Road into Dewsbury and Batley town centres, as well as linking with Batley Bus and Rail Stations. This will make it safer, easier, and more enjoyable for people cycling to travel along these busy routes. It is anticipated that the scheme will result in an increased number of people cycling.  

As part of our consultation, we will engage with local cycle groups.  

The proposed cycle facilities will be designed in line with the latest design recommendations from the Department for Transport - LTN1/20, which will ensure that safe access to properties as well as to parking (where remaining / existing / proposed) is provided.  

To deliver the proposed cycle lanes, there may be some parking and loading changes to business accesses, but early engagement with any affected parties will be undertaken. 

Following the first stage of consultation in 2021 we have further refined the scheme based on the feedback we received. We have also undertaken further traffic modelling. The aim of this second stage consultation phase is to obtain feedback with more detailed plans and quantified benefits. 

Some of the design options within the scheme would impact on local parking on the highway along certain stretches of the corridor, including A652 Bradford Road, Grange Road and Soothill Lane. Initial locations for parking restrictions are clearly shown on the consultation drawings.  

The timing of restrictions at each location has not been developed yet. The extent and type of parking restrictions will be developed as the scheme evolves based on scheme objectives and stakeholder feedback. Residents, businesses, and any other stakeholders will be consulted further on the detail before any changes can be made.

Access for people walking to all properties and shops will be maintained. Some of the proposed parking restrictions may mean that alternative loading areas would have to be used, or that deliveries would be restricted to certain times of the day, such as outside of peak periods.  

The scheme is at an early stage and these restrictions are likely to evolve throughout the design, which is why we are seeking your input now with this consultation. 

The designs have been developed to try and avoid any tree loss. However, this will be dependent on the final scheme design and tree surveys are currently being undertaken.  

In the event that trees must be removed, we will comply with policies outlined in the Kirklees Local Plan, including the recently adopted Open Space Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), which refers to biodiversity net gain.  

The phasing of roadworks on the public highway still needs to be planned. Nearer the time of construction, residents and businesses will be provided with more information about what will happen and where.  

A Construction Management Plan will be developed to minimise the impacts of construction activities on residents, businesses, and visitors. 

Construction of the scheme is projected to commence in summer 2023. 

The scheme is currently under development and design review, with a preferred scheme to be identified by Outline Business Case stage in January 2023. There are however several stages of business case approval to achieve, prior to construction.  

Due to the size and complexity of the proposed construction works, the improvements may be introduced in phases.  

Leaflets, letter drops, and posters are being provided in the area around the scheme and real time information screens at bus shelters will display information. Anyone who cannot access the survey online and needs to request an alternative format should contact MetroLine on 0113 245 7676. 

The £457 million programme, which is being delivered by the Combined Authority in partnership with local authorities, is being paid for with money from the Department for Transport (DfT) and local match funding.  

A range of options are being developed as part of each business case to ensure we deliver the best schemes, while also considering the ongoing impact of inflation, including the rising cost of building materials. 

Building on the significant progress already made, the Combined Authority is working in partnership to transform our town and city centres for walking and cycling, improve bus reliability and journey times, and make it easier to travel by train.   

The programme will connect people to jobs, training, and education through accessible, affordable and cleaner transport, boosting productivity and helping create healthier and happier communities for the future.   

It will also help us tackle the climate emergency on our way to becoming a net zero carbon economy by 2038.         

We need to reduce car trips by 21% and increase cycling trips by 2,000%, walking trips by 78%, bus strips by 39% and rail trips by 53% if we are to achieve our ambitious net zero targets in this time frame.

The impact of COVID-19 on the region and its economy means it is more important than ever to assess the changes to the landscapes of our towns and cities and the impact on current and future planned schemes, particularly, but not exclusively, those relating to transport.  

Although it is generally expected that people’s behaviour will return to the pre-pandemic position in the medium and long-term, the impact on travel into and around towns and cities will be assessed as part of every scheme’s appraisal and any assumptions made to address issues identified prior to the pandemic will be re-tested. 

It will build on the significant investment already made through the Combined Authority’s other programmes, such as the West Yorkshire-plus Transport Fund, Connecting Leeds and CityConnect. 

Many of the schemes provide enhancements or extensions to the projects being delivered through these programmes, helping to spread the benefits across a wider geography.   

The programme is focused on connecting people in the communities of greatest economic need with job and training opportunities. This will, in turn, help boost productivity, living standards and air quality.   

The bid was led by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority in partnership with the 10 local authorities across the Leeds City Region. It was developed in two stages, with a Strategic Outline Business Case (SOBC) submitted to the DfT in June 2019. The final bid was submitted to the DfT in November 2019.  

The bid documents can be found at westyorks-ca.gov.uk/TCF   

The programme is focused on connecting people in the communities of greatest economic need with job and training opportunities. This will, in turn, help boost productivity, living standards and air quality. 

As part of the bidding process, the Combined Authority was asked to develop a series of schemes, which could be delivered under three different cost scenarios.  Each scheme needed to meet the Combined Authority’s priorities, as well as objectives set out by the DfT, such as reducing carbon emissions, and increasing capacity for commuters with better access to employment centres, especially from disadvantaged communities. 

Schemes put forward by local authorities were scored against the objectives before being reviewed as a programme. Once agreement had been reached between local authority and Combined Authority officers, the programme was signed off by each of the leaders, as well as members of the Combined Authority’s Transport Committee.