West Yorkshire Combined Authority progresses �22m worth of investment

More than �22 million worth of investment into clean air, transport and regeneration projects has been progressed at a meeting of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (Thursday 10 May).

The projects, which span the county, will help improve air quality in the region�s cities and rural areas, ease traffic flow on a key highway between Calderdale and Kirklees and enable more new homes to be built in a residential area of Halifax.

Investment committed today amounts to �4.2 million and projects supported include:

�4.11 million was committed to fund further development work on the A629 between Halifax and Huddersfield. As part of a �120.6 million programme, this phase of works will help improve traffic capacity at Ainley Top, Blacker Road, East Street and Birchencliffe Hill Road. It is hoped this will improve traffic flow, regenerate underused brownfield land for housing and improve air quality for residents.

�120,000 was committed to progress the �4.76 million Clean Bus Technology Fund that plans to fit emission-reducing clean technology to more than 230 of West Yorkshire�s buses. Managed by the Combined Authority, the project is forecast to remove harmful nitrogen oxides from bus emissions as well as reduce environmental and health damage costs. Other funding will also be provided by Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs� (DEFRA) Clean Bus Technology Fund and bus operators.

Approval was also given to develop plans to kick-start residential development in Beech Hill, Halifax � creating 113 construction jobs and enabling 100 new homes � and progress a loan that will fund road access to a drive-through food outlet at the New Bolton Woods urban village development, in Bradford. The completed New Bolton Woods scheme will eventually include more than 1,000 new homes developed around a new local centre featuring a food store and shops, primary school and health facilities.

Councillor Tim Swift, Vice Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Leader of Calderdale Council, said:��By investing in projects that improve air quality, regenerate key residential areas and improve traffic flow, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority is committing to growing our economy for the benefit of everyone.

�Projects approved by the Combined Authority will help create more than 300 new jobs and 900 homes in the coming years while also reducing the levels of harmful nitrogen oxides from our streets. It is our aim that we make the region a better place to live and work for all our residents and these approvals are yet another positive step forwards for the three million people who call Leeds City Region their home.�

Roger Marsh OBE, Chair of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership, said: �It�s fantastic to see our funding being used to kick-start development and improve transport infrastructure across Leeds City Region. We have ambitious economic targets for the City Region and I look forward to seeing the long-term impact this investment will have.�

The Combined Authority is expected to invest more than �18.5 million during the lifetime of the four projects progressed today.

* Funding for projects approved by the Combined Authority include investment through the�Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) through the Leeds City Region Growth Deal � a �1 billion package of Government investment to accelerate growth and create jobs across Leeds City Region.