Combined Authority secures £52.6 million from Getting Building Fund

4 August 2020

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority has secured £52.6 million from Government funding to accelerate 15 ‘shovel-ready’ projects in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The schemes, which will benefit communities across West Yorkshire, were submitted to the Government after it made a total of £900 million available through the national Getting Building Fund. 

In total, the 15 West Yorkshire schemes will create almost 2,300 new jobs and safeguard a further 500 jobs. 

Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Leader of Bradford Council, said: “The 15 projects that were put forward to receive funding are integral to West Yorkshire’s economic recovery plan and will ensure the benefits are felt across a wide range of communities and economic sectors.  

“The projects focus on areas vital to a successful, and inclusive recovery, such as regenerating our towns and cities, support for business investment and jobs growth as well as opening up new walking and cycling routes.” 

Roger Marsh OBE, Chair of the LEP and Chair of the NP11, said: “The funding deal secured with Government is one of the largest in the UK and will play a crucial role in our recovery, alongside the work already being undertaken by our West Yorkshire Economic Recovery Board.

“Through the £1 billion plus Leeds City Region Growth Deal we have already demonstrated our successful track record in investing in the right infrastructure needed to create the jobs, housing and communities of the future.

“This funding will enable us to go even further and build on those foundations that have already been laid to ensure the benefits are felt in all corners of our region.”

Minister for Regional Growth and Local Government Simon Clarke MP said: “We want to build back better to fuel a green economic recovery across the country by investing in infrastructure, creating jobs and building the homes people need.

“That is why, we are investing £900 million in shovel-ready projects through our Getting Building Fund, including £52.6 million in West Yorkshire. This funding will unlock homes, create new jobs and deliver investment in commercial and green spaces and a much-needed boost to the local economy.”

The projects are: 

• £7 million towards the Business Growth Programme – A grants scheme to help businesses recover and adapt following the lockdown. Designed to help 175 businesses, create 800 new jobs and safeguard 200 existing jobs. 
• £9.07 million towards the Enterprise Zones at Parry Lane in Bradford and Langthwaite in Wakefield – Further funding to extend existing sites and open up more land to meet industry demand, creating up to 400 jobs when complete. 
• £7.5 million towards Bradford One City Park – A scheme to create new office space in the heart of the city centre. This is expected to create 300 construction jobs and another 452 jobs when complete. 
• £3 million towards Bradford City Village phase 1 – The first phase of a ten-year plan to revitalise part of the city centre creating up to 1,000 new homes and replace the outdated market hall. This is expected to safeguard 300 existing jobs and create 400 new jobs. 
• £500,000 towards Leeds Liverpool Canal – Completion of the remaining 2km of canal towpath on the Leeds Liverpool Canal providing continuous walking and cycling route from Leeds City Centre towards the Yorkshire Dales that will help boost tourism and leisure as well as providing a sustainable, low-cost, travel link to access local employment and skills opportunities. 
• £1.8 million towards Brighouse A6025 Reconstruction – A scheme to reopen a road which has been closed since a landslip in February providing access to the proposed Elland Rail Station, housing sites and improving access to the town centre. This is expected to create an additional 18 construction jobs. 
• £1.2 million towards Beech Hill Phase 2 Group Repair & Regeneration Scheme – A package of measures to retrofit homes with new insulation, windows and doors to improve energy efficiency. This is expected to create 13 construction jobs. 
• £1.365 million towards Huddersfield George Hotel acquisition and remedial works – A scheme to buy and redevelopment a grade-II listed building next to Huddersfield Rail Station and transform it into the new National Rugby League Museum with a restaurant, bars and new office space. This is expected to create 174 new jobs with an additional 13 construction jobs. 
• £600,000 towards Dewsbury Arcade – A scheme to restore and reopen the grade-II listed Victorian Dewsbury Arcade, part of Kirklees Council’s ten-year plan for Dewsbury town centre. This is expected to create 30 new jobs with an additional 10 construction jobs. 
• £8.6 million towards Leeds City Park - City Park - A scheme to transform road space in the South Bank area to create the largest new city centre park in the UK and improve cycling and walking facilities in one of Europe’s largest regeneration programmes. 
• £2.604 million towards Holbeck Phase 2 Victorian Terrace Retrofit – The next phase of a project to improve housing in Holbeck, one of the most deprived areas in the UK, whilst also tackling anti-social behaviour and improving access to jobs and education. This is expected to create 30 construction jobs. 
• £7.4 million towards Temple Green Park and Ride Expansion – The creation of 400 extra parking spaces at the existing facility in East Leeds helping to reduce congestion and air pollution in the city centre. This is expected to create 24 construction jobs. 
• £661,000 towards Wakefield Warm Homes Fund – A scheme to improve energy efficiency in low income households helping to reduce fuel poverty, carbon emissions and tackle health inequalities.  
• £300,000 towards the Business Gigabit Voucher Scheme – Helping businesses and homes connect to super or ultrafast broadband as well as installing new wireless and 4G/5G networks in community locations.  
• £1 million towards Knottingley Skills, Business and Services Hub – A scheme to upgrade the existing Kellingley Club building to create a new community hub to help people access education, training and careers support. It will also offer help to local businesses and start-ups.  

Housing Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP said: “As we get Britain building we are also laying the foundations for a green economic recovery by investing in vital infrastructure for local communities, creating jobs and building environmentally-friendly homes with a huge £1.3 billion investment announced today.

“This Government is determined to level up all parts of the country and this funding will not only give a much needed boost to our economic recovery, it will help build the good quality, affordable homes the country needs.”

LEP Network Chair, Mark Bretton: “As business led partnerships with a ready made pipeline of projects, LEPs responded swiftly to the Prime Minister’s call for infrastructure projects with more available when government is ready.  

“LEPs ‘can do’ business attitude has created a proven track record of complex delivery, landing projects at scale, on time and to budget. The foundations they are building for local recovery in their Five Point Plan will underpin our national recovery."