FAQs
About the project
Encourage more people to visit Dewsbury Bus Station and transform passenger facilities
Improve access and safety for all bus station passengers
Attract new retail business and improve the customer experience
Help regenerate Dewsbury town centre in line with the Dewsbury blueprint
Make the bus station more energy efficient and reduce carbon emissions
Who is responsible for transforming Dewsbury Bus Station?
The West Yorkshire Combined Authority (the Combined Authority) is the owner and operator of the existing bus station and is responsible for making the improvements at Dewsbury Bus Station. The Combined Authority works with local authorities, such as Kirklees Council, and businesses across the region to create economic growth through infrastructure projects such as this.
Why do you need to do something?
The existing bus station needs improvement, and we know that from the first round of consultation you would like a more attractive, safer and accessible bus station with improved services.
This scheme aims to address this through a transformation of the bus station building and its surroundings, including an improved interior, better accessibility for all bus station users and upgraded public entrances and exits that encourage people to travel by public transport.
The bus station will be an important transport hub and gateway into Dewsbury Town Centre, providing key connections for residents, visitors, students and workers to access employment, education, leisure and other essential services. The scheme aims to deliver a modern, fit for purpose facility that complements Dewsbury Town Centre and encourages more people to travel by public transport.
What is the budget of this scheme?
The Dewsbury Bus Station project was granted £13.9 million and forms part of a wider package of transport projects to transform the way people travel in and around Dewsbury, including better access between the station and the town centre.
Can the money be spent on other things instead of improving the bus station? (e.g. bus services, potholes, littering)
The proposal for a transformed bus station in Dewsbury was part of a competitive bid for funding from the Department for Transport’s ‘Transforming Cities Fund’ (TCF). This funding is given by the Government directly and is ring-fenced for this purpose, so cannot be used for other activities.
How will bus users benefit from this project?
To encourage more people in and around Dewsbury to use public transport, the proposals aim to:
Is anything being done to improve the rest of Dewsbury Town Centre?
The Dewsbury Bus Station proposals are part of a wider package to transform the way people travel in and around the town, including better walking and cycling access between the station and the town centre. The Dewsbury Blueprint is a 10-year plan that seeks to honour the heritage of Dewsbury and build on recent investments. It includes this project proposal, as well as the Dewsbury Town Centre Walking and Cycling improvements scheme that was consulted on in 2021 and 2022.
About the new proposals
New and improved entrances
Improved Real Time Information at the bus bays
Improved internal features such as seating, flooring and signage
Improved accessibility features, including:
A Changing Places toilet which has extra features to meet the needs of people with a range of disabilities and their carers. The toilets provide enough space and the right equipment, including a hoist and height adjustable changing bench
A new wayfinding line to assist people with visual impairments
Improvements to crossings and kerbs
Refurbished and upgraded retail units
A new part-glass roof between South Street and Aldams Road entrances to increase natural light
More planting and greenery
Installation of solar panels to the roof to make the bus station more energy efficient
The ceiling will no longer be upgraded with timber, due to an increase of cost. The proposal is now that the ceiling would be upgraded with steel.
New safety and security features, including additional CCTV cameras in an improved layout and help points
A new customer service desk on the concourse
Improved seating and waiting facilities
Additional accessibility improvements including:
A new wayfinding line to assist people with visual impairments
New smart timetable information at each bus stand, with braille and audio information
Bus and rail real time information and bus stand design
A new quiet room. This is a quiet space that can be accessed by members of the public who need to get away from busier areas of the bus station. This can be particularly useful for people with neurodivergence, people with disabilities and anyone in need of a moment of quiet.
Increased levels of natural lighting from the new windows and new part-glazed atrium roof
A ‘living-roof’ with bee-friendly plants
Which proposals received support in the first round of consultation?
Proposals that were supported during the first consultation, and are progressing to the next design stage are:
You can also view our ‘You Said, We’re Doing’ report.
Which proposals are no longer being progressed?
Proposals that are no longer being progressed include:
You can also view our ‘You Said, We’re Doing’ report, which outlines the changes we’ve made since the first consultation in 2021.
What are the new proposals that you are engaging on?
We’re now at the detailed design stage, and we’re looking for feedback on:
Will there be more waiting facilities?
Yes, the project currently plans to increase the seats for each bus stand to 10, with an additional space for wheelchairs.
Are there any facilities for people travelling by bike?
Three new bike racks, or ‘Sheffield Stands’, and shelters will be introduced at each entrance.
What is a Quiet Room?
A Quiet Room is a quiet space that can accessed by members of the public who need to get away from busier areas of the bus station. This can be particularly useful for people with neurodivergence, people with disabilities and anyone in need of a moment of quiet.
Why aren’t you improving the general toilet facilities?
The general toilet facilities are not a part of this project. The toilets were refurbished in 2019. However this project includes a new Changing Places toilet.
Why do you charge for toilet facilities?
This is part of wider Combined Authority policy to charge a small fee for the public toilets where possible. This policy is aimed at deterring anti-social behaviour and vandalism in bus stations. Changing this policy is not part of this project.
About the construction
When will construction begin for Dewsbury Bus Station?
Subject to final approvals, construction is due to start Summer 2024 and will take around 16 months to complete.
Will the bus station remain open during construction?
We will be aiming for the bus station to remain open as usual when construction work gets underway. Any disruption caused by the construction period will be actively managed by the Combined Authority, bus operators and Kirklees Council, but all services should continue to run. The transformation will not have a direct impact on the operation of any bus services in Dewsbury and may encourage bus operators to run additional services in the future.
Will I still be able to catch my bus at the bus station during construction? Or, will the services move to on-street stops?
This will be reviewed as the project progresses, but we currently think that there is enough capacity to allow bus services to remain within the bus station throughout construction.
About sustainability, climate and the environment
Reduced energy use by introducing efficiency measures, including LED lights outside the bus station
Local energy generation through solar panels on the bus station roof
A new air source heat pump
Plus, more planting and landscaping around the bus station, including new trees and a bee-friendly living roof will help increase biodiversity.
How will the bus station improvements address the climate emergency?
The scheme will contribute to the Leeds City Region’s objective to become a carbon neutral economy by 2038 by delivering an efficient bus station facility. Measures within the designs include:
Are any trees being removed in this scheme? If so, why?
Overall, we are proposing an increase in the number of green spaces, including the number of trees and other planting surrounding the bus station. However, some trees will need to be removed because they are diseased, and others will be removed to avoid them growing too close to the building.
About the Transforming Cities Fund (TCF)
What is the Transforming Cities Fund (TCF) programme?
Providing an accessible, attractive, and cleaner alternative to car journeys is at the heart of Leeds City Region’s Transforming Cities Fund (TCF) - a major new programme of transport infrastructure investment secured as part of the West Yorkshire devolution deal.
To find out more details about the programme, visit the TCF Frequently Asked Questions page.