FAQs

The ‘Dewsbury Town Centre Walking & Cycling Improvements’ project is part of the Leeds City Region Transforming Cities Fund (TCF) programme, which seeks to promote sustainable and inclusive transport opportunities to support economic growth and reduced carbon emissions.

The project aims to encourage more people to choose walking and cycling as their method of transport in Dewsbury, and will help to maximise the benefits of significant planned investments into the Transpennine Rail route and Dewsbury Bus Station.  It will also support the delivery of the ‘Dewsbury Blueprint’, which is a 10-year plan that seeks to regenerate the town and provide for future growth in the area.

The town is in the middle of an ambitious period of investment and regeneration that has already seen major successes.  Dewsbury sits at the heart of the North Kirklees Growth Zone, a long-term regeneration initiative that will promote transformational change in the town.

The Dewsbury Town Centre Walking & Cycling TCF project focusses on improvements to the following streets/areas:

• Bond Street
• Wellington Street
• Grove Street
• Church Street/ Westgate
• Railway Street/ Longcauseway South
• South Street
• Aldams Road/ Wilton Street Junction
• Halifax Road/ Bradford Road/ Ring Road Junction
• Ring Road between Bradford Rd and Leeds Rd Junctions

A long list of possible options for the scheme was evaluated against:

• the scheme objectives,
• forecasted costs
• and benefits 

and then prioritised for design. The options selected were ones which:

• met the original objectives of the scheme,
• were most likely to offer the best value for money,
• and took account of wider social and environmental constraints

The map of the town centre outlining the proposals is shown here.

The key scheme objectives are:

• Enhance connectivity for people cycling and walking in and around the town centre
• Improve walking and cycling routes across the town and between public transport hubs (such as the Rail Station and Bus Station)
• Create an improved and safer environment for people walking and cycling
• Deliver better air quality and nicer public spaces
• To upgrade junctions at various sites to help improve safety for people walking and cycling, as well as traffic flows and congestion in the town centre

Kirklees Council is responsible for delivering the scheme. Kirklees Council is working in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority. The Combined Authority works with Local Authorities and businesses across West Yorkshire and York to create economic growth through infrastructure projects such as this. To learn more about the Combined Authority, visit: https://www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/

This scheme is being funded through the Transforming Cities Fund (TCF), provided by the Department for Transport following a successful bidding process. The programme aims to provide improved infrastructure for active and sustainable travel (walking, cycling and public transport). The projects are not funded by Council Tax, nor will the funding allocations impact other Council funding streams. The Dewsbury Town Centre Walking and Cycling project has approximately £10m allocated funding from the TCF programme. To learn more about TCF, visit: https://www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/improving-transport/transforming-cities-fund/

The scheme has close relationships with the following schemes:

• A638 Dewsbury to Cleckheaton Sustainable Travel Corridor (Transforming Cities Fund)
• Dewsbury-Batley-Chidswell Sustainable Travel Corridor (Transforming Cities Fund)
• Mirfield to Dewsbury to Leeds transport scheme (West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund)
• Batley Streets for People scheme (Streets for People)

The Dewsbury Town Centre Walking and Cycling project will contribute to Kirklees Council’s 2038 carbon neutral vision, and the Combined Authority’s Net Zero Carbon Economy by 2038. 

The scheme achieves this primarily by encouraging more people to walk, cycle and use public transport, through making these options more accessible, attractive and achievable via better connectivity within the town centre and surrounding areas. Trees, landscaping and sustainable drainage (sometimes referred to as ‘green infrastructure’) will also be included in the proposals where possible.

The plans show an aspirational concept design of the type of improvements we would like to deliver in Dewsbury. The final nature of the plans will be determined following public consultation and during the detailed design stage.

The scheme aims to achieve better connectivity for cyclists and pedestrians accessing the town centre. We are looking to provide improved walking and cycling routes, both entering the town centre but also in getting across the town centre. Also, between key public transport hubs such as the railway station and bus station. We are also upgrading a number of areas in terms of tree planting, better quality paving, better pedestrian crossings and segregated cycle lanes to improve safety and enhance the public realm in the town centre.

There are no changes proposed to any bus routes or bus stops as a result of this scheme. The intention is to allow better connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists across the town centre, therefore making it easier for people to access bus services, particularly providing better connectivity to the bus station. One additional factor in the scheme is the proposal to prioritise bus services on Halifax Road to the eastern side of the Ring Road, making this a bus only section of road.

No new bus stops are proposed as part of the scheme or for any to be changed or removed. However, the scheme is at an early stage of development and this will be determined when undertaking the next design stage with further consultation planned at that point. There may be a need in future to make slight relocations of certain bus stops, and this will be determined through detailed design. Should any changes to bus stops or new ones be proposed these would be made clear in any future consultation.

In some locations, the provision of new cycling infrastructure is achieved through widening of existing footways into the main road, thus narrowing traffic lanes and in some locations meaning the removal of a traffic lane to accommodate segregated cycling and widened footways for pedestrians, making it safer for them. Extensive modelling will be undertaken to clearly define the impacts of this on car users and journey times, however this consultation is looking to measure the level of support for the introduction of segregated cycle lanes and widened pedestrian footpaths in some areas.

The aim of this first consultation phase is to gauge public opinion on the principle of the proposals before investing further in scheme development.  The next stage of design will include modelling analysis and appraisal, which will then be used with the consultation feedback to develop the scheme further.  Kirklees Council will undertake a second public consultation with more detailed plans and quantified benefits / impacts in 2022.

Traffic re-routing analysis and modelling will be undertaken to understand the full impacts of this in terms of journey times and impacts on car users. The proposals at this stage are intended to promote safety for cyclists and segregated cycle lanes, therefore we wish to understand the levels of public support for this as part of this consultation.

There are certain locations where, to improve the outcomes for pedestrians and cyclists, some on-street parking might need to be removed. The project however seeks to keep this to a minimum and where possible on-street parking will be reassigned to other nearby locations in the town centre. The overall balance and distribution of parking across the town centre is also being considered as part of the Kirklees Parking Strategy.

At this stage, it is anticipated that the works can take place within the existing highway boundary or land owned by Kirklees Council, therefore it is not anticipated any land acquisition will be required.

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 currently being undertaken. In a number of locations we seek to increase tree planting. 

In the unfortunate 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) including the replacement of any lost trees.

The phasing of roadworks on the public highway still needs to be planned. Nearer the time of construction, local 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 local residents, businesses and visitors.

The details of roadworks and timings will be determined closer to the time of construction.  Roadworks would only be carried out at night in limited circumstances to meet traffic operational requirements and residents would be informed well in advance.

The scheme is currently under development and is going through design review and consultation stages, with a preferred scheme to be identified by Outline Business Case stage in December 2021.  There are several stages of business case approval from the Combined Authority to fulfil local assurance requirements prior to construction.  Due to the size and complexity of the proposed construction works, the improvements may be introduced in phases. Construction of the scheme is projected to commence in autumn 2022.

This is a separate project focussed on walking and cycling connectivity across the Town Centre and is led by Kirklees Council. The Dewsbury Bus Station scheme is predominately focussed on improving the internal areas of the bus station and is led by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority. There are some areas of overlap around the Bus Station access points on South Street as well as Aldams Road – the plans for which are included in this consultation. The responses to those will largely inform the proposals that the public would see in future, however the two project teams have regular liaison around the proposals and any public feedback received.

We are consulting again more specifically in the context of these proposals for the Town Centre and therefore being able to give a greater focus on the responses and higher level of detail on the proposals. Previous schemes have given the opportunity for consultation and provided useful feedback which we have aimed to incorporate into these updates proposals, and now wish for feedback to be received again in the context of these Town Centre proposals for walking and cycling improvements.

The scheme is reviewed through sequenced decision gateways in the Assurance Process of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority. There are five business case gateways within this assurance process. At each stage, recommendations on the scheme are made by an officer-based appraisal team to the relevant committee(s) of elected members.

Funding for the early phase of the scheme was secured through the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to allow Kirklees Council to start developing and promoting the scheme. This has allowed us to undertake initial studies and business case development, optioneering and outline designing. This project is still at an early stage of development but has secured Combined Authority and Kirklees Cabinet approvals at the Strategic Outline Case stage.

Kirklees Council is consulting on this scheme to understand public opinion before undertaking more detailed design and analysis. The analysis will incorporate feedback from this first consultation and include: 

• Further junction modelling using computer software to determine benefits and potential impacts on user journey times
• Wider benefits and impacts relating to people shifting to sustainable modes of transport (such as walking, cycling and public transport), safety improvements, public open space and landscaped grass or planted areas
• Continued discussions with stakeholders such as local Councillors, businesses, resident groups, landowners and local action groups
• Appraisal to help determine whether the proposals offer ‘value for money’ against defined Department for Transport criteria

Kirklees Council will undertake further public consultation once designs have been progressed and more information can be provided on quantified benefits and impacts – for example what journey time savings might bus passengers experience or the number of new pedestrian crossing points or area of new pavement space.  This second phase of consultation is expected to take place in the Spring of 2022.

The consultation period will take place from 7 October until 7 November 2021. Members of the public can have their say via www.yourvoice@westyorks-ca.gov.uk/DewsburyActiveTravel or email yourvoice@westyorks-ca.gov.uk. We are keen to hear from local residents, businesses and all road users.

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.

We welcome opinions and feedback from all members of the public. Whether you travel by public transport, walk, drive, or cycle, are a resident, business owner, or just travel through the area, your views, opinions and insights are valuable to us to shape the project. Please share the link www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/DewsburyActiveTravel 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/members so they can provide an individual response, should they wish to do so.

You can register to follow the project and have your say in any future consultations at www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/register. Updates on project progress will also be provided via the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Kirklees Council webpages and via press articles. You can also contact your Local Ward Councillors. We will publish a report on the consultation response on this website.

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.

The programme will be funded through £317 million from the Department for Transport (DfT) plus local match funding of up to £140 million.  

In partnership with local authorities, the Combined Authority will deliver transformational infrastructure, which will dramatically improve people’s access to walking, cycling and public transport.

It is estimated TCF schemes will improve journeys by bus, rail, bike and on foot for up to 1.5 million people, take up to 12 million car trips per year off our roads and reduce CO2 emissions from car travel by up to 15,000 tonnes by 2036.  

Communities across Bradford, Calderdale, Craven, Harrogate, Kirklees, Leeds, Selby, Wakefield and York are set to benefit from the schemes, which include new or improved bus and rail stations, cycling and walking infrastructure, and new Park and Rides.

The programme will deliver:

• two new Park & Rides
• one new rail station
• four new foot and cycle bridges
• six new or improved bus stations and interchange hubs
• new high quality cycle routes along six corridors
• bus priority along six key bus routes to create more reliable and faster bus journey times
• 800 new cycle parking spaces
• seven improvements to Rail Station Gateways
• new Real Time Information and improved passenger experience across the network.  

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority is working in partnership with local authority colleagues from Bradford, Calderdale, Craven, Harrogate, Kirklees, Leeds, North Yorkshire, Selby, Wakefield and York councils on the TCF programme.

It is estimated TCF will:

• improve journeys by bus, rail, bike and on foot for up to 1.5 million people
• take up to 12 million car trips per year off our roads by 2036
• make 33 million rail journeys easier by improvements to rail stations
• increase bus, rail, and walking and cycling trips by up to 6%, 4% and 7% respectively by 2036
• reduce CO2 emissions by up to 1.5% / 15,000 tonnes from car travel by 2036
• create more than 1,000 jobs and add up to £1 billion to the economy by 2036
• support connectivity to 650 housing sites and 220 employment sites

As part of the West Yorkshire devolution deal, the Combined Authority secured £317 million from the DfT’s TCF programme to deliver schemes in the low-cost scenario.

Since then, the Combined Authority has approved the use of future gain share funding, alongside other income streams, to deliver the high-cost scenario up to an additional £140 million.  

This additional funding will help us deliver more transport improvements, which will benefit communities across West Yorkshire. 

This work is more important than ever, not only as we look to address the health and economic challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, but also in helping us achieve our aim of 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 programme will connect people to economic and education opportunities through accessible, affordable, attractive and cleaner transport, boosting productivity and helping to create healthier and happier communities for the future.  

Through the programme and building on the significant progress already made, we are working in partnership to transform our town and city centres for walking and cycling, improve bus reliability and journey times, and investing in our region to prepare for HS2, Northern Powerhouse Rail and the Transpennine Route Upgrade.

Communities across Bradford, Calderdale, Craven, Harrogate, Kirklees, Leeds, Selby, Wakefield and York are set to benefit from the schemes, which include new or improved bus and rail stations, cycling and walking infrastructure, and new Park and Rides.

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.   

There are 22 packages of schemes, comprising 35 individual projects, within the overall programme.

Different schemes are at different stages, right through from the development of business cases and designs, to gearing up for public consultation, with Halifax Bus Station redevelopment due to start on site in spring 2021.  

Find out more information at westyorks-ca.gov.uk/TCF 

The schemes funded through the DfT need to be delivered by spring 2023, with schemes financed by local match funding being delivered beyond these timescales.

To date, there has been minimal impact of the programme as a result of COVID-19.  The majority of the projects are at the early stages of development and much of the work required can be carried out virtually.   As the schemes move to the next stage of delivery, we will continue to monitor the impact and identify any risks to delivery.  

We are also looking at best practice ways of delivering public consultations and engagement activity to ensure all members of the community get the opportunity to have their say on TCF schemes during COVID-19.  

The full implications of COVID-19 on the region, the economy and the transport system are still to be understood and the impact on the Combined Authority’s programmes and schemes to date has been mixed. 

We are working closely with our local authority partners at every level of our appraisal process to ensure delivery timescales have taken into account the current issues and that each scheme is stress tested to ensure its ongoing viability. 

In the wake of COVID-19 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. 

The impact of COVID-19 in relation to travel behaviour into and around towns and cities is assessed as part of each scheme’s appraisal. 

While public transport patronage is currently lower than pre COVID-19 levels, it remains a priority to invest in public transport infrastructure to both help with economic recovery and to have the required infrastructure in place to respond to an increase in demand post-COVID-19. 

A range of options are being developed as part of each business case to determine the best scheme, which will include a range of options up to the high-cost scenario.

As part of the devolution deal, the Combined Authority secured £317 million from the DfT’s TCF to deliver schemes in the low-cost scenario.

Since then, the Combined Authority has approved the use of future gain share funding, alongside other income streams, to deliver the high-cost scenario up to £140 million. 

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 TCF 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. 

For more information about the West Yorkshire-plus Transport Fund visit westyorks-ca.gov.uk/projects/west-yorkshire-plus-transport-fund 

For more information about Connecting Leeds visit leeds.gov.uk/parking-roads-and-travel/connecting-leeds-and-transforming-travel 

For more information about CityConnect visit cyclecityconnect.co.uk 

Find out more information about the Transforming Cities Fund programme at westyorks-ca.gov.uk/TCF

Public consultation and engagement activities are taking place throughout 2021.  

Details of the TCF consultations can be found at www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk. You can get in touch with the Combined Authority’s Consultation and Engagement team via YourVoice@westyorks-ca.gov.uk, 0113 245 7676 or Freepost CONSULTATION TEAM (WYCA).  Please note that, due to the COVID-19 crisis, the majority of the Combined Authority’s staff are working from home and there will therefore be significant delays in receiving any postal contributions. If you can, please contact the team using another method to ensure a quick response.

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 bid was developed in partnership with local authorities across the Leeds City Region, including Bradford, Calderdale, Craven, Harrogate, Kirklees, Leeds, North Yorkshire, Selby, Wakefield and York. The bid was also co-developed with the DfT, which provided feedback on the plans as they emerged. In line with other Mayoral Combined Authorities, we are required to feedback on the progress of the programme’s delivery.  

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 (low, core and high).   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.