Seven schemes approved at Combined Authority Investment Committee

14 March 2019

West Yorkshire Combined Authority's Investment Committee agreed to progress seven schemes which have been designed to support economic growth from which everyone across West Yorkshire and the Leeds City Region can benefit.

The Committee approved to progress plans for:

Business support schemes

A £2.46 million fund for growth services will support 690 SMEs across Leeds City Region to improve their business resilience and, as a result, be in a stronger position to address future challenges. The scheme will be supported by a team of 19 Growth Managers who will be based within the City Regions districts and provide support on assisting them with their growth, sustainability and resilience. Also, approved was the £3.78 million Resource Efficiency Fund which will provide both grant support and advice for SMEs to help improve their energy and resource efficiency.

Restoration of a key regeneration site in Wakefield

The £6.5 million restoration of Rutland Mills, adjacent to the Hepworth Gallery and the regeneration of the Kirkgate area forming Wakefield's South East Gateway. The Rutland Mills development will provide a space for a creative industries jobs hub. The Kirkgate scheme will support new homes through the site acquisition and clearance of brownfield sites.

Development of new homes in Dewsbury

The £4.612 million scheme will support infrastructure, to begin development of the first phase of 240 homes at Dewsbury Riverside at two sites; Lees Hall Road and Ravensthorpe Road. The scheme is the first phase of proposals to develop up to 4,000 new homes at Dewsbury Riverside.

Road improvements in Leeds

The A61 Bus Priority Corridor Scheme will consist of a series of improvements to bus prioritisation and complementary walking and cycling measures. The £16.1 million project funded by Leeds Public Transport Investment Programme, will include the extension of bus lanes, the reallocation of road space to provide shared bus/cycle lanes and key junction improvements. The scheme's wider social benefits include providing better accessibility to jobs and services for local communities, particularly lower income groups in north Leeds and helping to reduce levels of nitrogen oxides on this key transport corridor.

The second phase of a flood alleviation scheme in Leeds

The £112m scheme will be supported by £3.9 million from the Growth Deal to provide natural flood defences on the River Aire, between Leeds Station to Apperley Bridge. The defences will reduce flood risks of over 1,300 businesses and therefore safeguard 11,000 jobs.

Development of new public realm and improvements to York station

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority Transport Fund will contribute £37.32 million scheme to improve accessibility in York Central. This will include, a new access road into York Central, a series of accessibility and public realm improvements to the front of York station and pedestrian access improvements to the western station entrance. The scheme will support the delivery of up to 2,500 new homes and up to 6,000 new jobs.

Cllr Peter Box, Chair of the West Yorkshire combined Authority Investment Committee said: "All of these schemes are ambitious and designed to generate inclusive economic growth from which everyone across West Yorkshire and the City Region can benefit, and to improve our transport network to support that growth and connect people with jobs and training opportunities."