09.01.20
£15.4m bus station proposed by West Yorkshire Combined Authority
West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Calerdale Council’s £15.4m scheme is aiming to deliver a redevelopment for a fresh, fit for purpose facility that complements the surrounding heritage, public realm and urban fabric of Halifax town centre.
Improving accessibility and safety, proposals includes a level and fully enclosed passenger concourse with enhanced facilities that make sure the separation of passengers and buses.
The concourse would entail opportunities for shops and cafes, real-time information for buses and nearby train services and charging points for electric buses and cycles.
The redeveloped bus station will be an important transport hub and gateway into Halifax town centre, making changing between transport modes easy and developing connectivity with near level walking routes to key places across the town, such as Dean Clough, The Piece Hall and the new Halifax Sixth Form College.
Starting Monday 13 January until Wednesday 12 February, the public can see the plans and feedback their views online.
Plans for a new Halifax Bus Station were submitted as part of a West Yorkshire package to the Department for Transport’s competitive Transforming Cities Fund bidding process. A final funding decision is expected from the DfT in March 2020, with all projects needing to be completed by March 2023.
The Combined Authority plans to use public and stakeholder feedback to help form plans and highlight user satisfaction with the bus station. The next step for the project, which can only progress if the Transforming Cities Fund bid is successful, would be to submit a full planning application in March 2020. Subject to plans being approved, the Combined Authority intend to start construction of the scheme in 2021.
Cllr Kim Groves, Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Transport Committee said: “Good services and high-quality facilities that attract more people to want to use local buses are key to us accomplishing the Combined Authority’s economic and environmental goals by reducing congestion and the CO2 emissions it causes.
“A new bus station in Halifax would help to achieve this as well as providing huge support for local job creation. It would underpin new and expanded local businesses, learning opportunities, the development of commercial units and housing construction
“The proposals for the bus station are being considered by the DfT as part of the Transforming Cities Fund process with a decision expected in spring of 2020. If our bid is successful and the scheme can go ahead, we would have just two years to deliver this major scheme, which is why we have carried out development work and now want to ensure local people’s views are taking into account as part of the tight timescale.”
Image: West Yorkshire Combined Authority