Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

West Yorkshire Combined Authority is the owner and operator of the existing bus station and is responsible for making the improvements at Huddersfield Bus Station. Kirklees Council own the area to the front of the bus station and are delivering the proposed entrance canopy and improvements to public space outside the bus station in partnership with the CA. They are also working on other projects in the town centre. The Combined Authority and Kirklees Council share responsibility for Henry street and are working together on improvements to safety in this area. 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.

The existing bus station is in need of improvements to enhance facilities for existing passengers, and to help make the bus station and bus use a more attractive choice for others who may not have considered using the facilities before. The Huddersfield Bus Station improvement scheme aims to address this through a proposed 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 encourages people to travel by public transport in Huddersfield and the wider region.

Subject to approval and funding, construction is due to start in late 2022 / early 2023 and is planned to be completed in late 2023 / early 2024.

The budget of this scheme is being finalised, but it is part of a wider £32m ‘Transforming Cities Fund’ package of transport schemes in Huddersfield, which include improvements for people travelling by bus, cycling and walking around the rail station, bus station and the rest of the town centre. Proposals for these other schemes in Huddersfield will be put to public consultation later this year.

The proposal for a transformed bus station in Huddersfield 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 to fund other transport projects, or other sectors such as health.

The Huddersfield 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. There will be a separate consultation regarding the proposed improvements in Huddersfield Town Centre later this year.

To encourage more people to use public transport in Huddersfield and the wider region, the proposals aim to:  

• Provide an enhanced customer experience for Huddersfield Bus Station users by upgrading facilities and improving user safety.     
• Transform the interior and exterior spaces of the bus station to make it a modern and attractive gateway to Huddersfield.    
• Make Huddersfield Bus Station more accessible for all users and better connected with the town centre to increase numbers of people travelling by bus.   
• Make the bus station a more energy efficient and environmentally friendly facility to help tackle the climate emergency.    
• Improve the access routes to the bus station to make walking and crossing roads easier and safer for people. 
• Make the bus station a more secure facility, to improve personal safety and encourage more people to travel by bus.    

The proposals include the introduction of a fully accessible “Changing Places” toilet facility which provides extra equipment and space to meet the needs of disabled people.  Improved wayfinding is also proposed through floor markings, improved signage and more space moving through the bus station.

The proposed entrance canopy and improvements to public space outside the bus station being led by Kirklees Council is considering cycle facilities such as a cycle hub as one potential option. Cycle parking is also proposed by the car park ramps. The exact nature of these facilities is yet to be determined.

The proposals include enhancing the exterior of the bus station including the building frontages and shop fronts, in addition to a more modern Henry Street entrance building. A large, covered canopy will also be provided outside the main bus station access, including planter with seating. These improvements will help create a more attractive and well-kept environment for all people passing the bus station not only bus users.  

The bus station will be an important transport hub and gateway into Huddersfield 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 Huddersfield Town Centre and encourages more people to travel by public transport.

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. Interventions being considered include: 

• Increased ‘greening’ landscaping around the bus station and a green roof
• Installing an air source heat pump to make the building more energy efficient 
• Local energy generation through solar panels
• Clean energy opportunities through the provision of electric charge points for staff / maintenance vehicles

We will be aiming for the bus station to remain open as usual when construction work gets underway. Works will need to be phased and there may be temporary changes within the bus station, but any disruption caused by the construction period will be actively managed by the Combined Authority and bus operators and all services should continue to run. The redevelopment will not have a direct impact on the operation of any bus services in Huddersfield and may encourage bus operators to run additional services in the future.

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 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
   

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.

To date, there has been minimal impact of the programme as a result of COVID-19.  The majority of the schemes 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. 

To find out more information and have your say visit www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/hdbs where members of the public can have their say via an online survey or can ask questions via a ‘Q&A’ tool on the web page. 

Hard copies of the materials can be provided free of charge by calling 0113 245 7676 (MetroLine), via Freepost CONSULTATION TEAM (WYCA) or yourvoice@westyorks-ca.gov.uk.   

 You can share the link to the consultation page www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/hdbs) to your friends, family and groups for them to have their say, or encourage them to get in touch with us using the contact details above.

Yes, we would welcome any group/organisational views on this scheme. Please make sure that you have permission to comment on behalf of your group/organisation and feel free to submit your response via email to yourvoice@westyorks-ca.gov.uk. Your comments will be recorded and included in the consultation feedback and analysis.   

The feedback will be analysed and will inform the development of more detailed plans for this scheme.

A consultation outcome report, outlining the key findings of the consultation, will be uploaded to this webpage on YourVoice.