West Yorkshire leaders approve over £40m for roads and homes

The first meeting of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority since the General Election has seen over £40 million approved for new housebuilding and road improvements.

The meeting also saw progress towards a Local Growth Plan, outlining ambitions for deeper devolution and a single funding settlement for West Yorkshire, following a series of productive meetings between the region’s Mayor Tracy Brabin and Government Ministers.

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “This multi-million pound investment in our cities, towns and villages will give us the building blocks of a stronger, brighter region.

“The backing of the new Government will be a gamechanger for our ambitions, allowing us to deliver more quickly and boldly through a single funding settlement.

“And our Local Growth Plan will give us the tools we need to grow our economy, create well-paid jobs and put money back in people’s pockets.”

In total, regional leaders agreed £43 million of new funding to support over a dozen projects. These include:

• £1.6 million to help build 63 new homes in Wakefield’s Civic Quarter.
• £2.2 million for a range of improvements at bus stations across West Yorkshire.
• £13.8 million to improve traffic capacity in Kirklees.
• £7.7 million to support cycling corridors across Leeds City Centre.

The Mayor also provided an update on the region’s Local Growth Plan, setting out her priorities to tackle low pay, poor productivity, outdated public transport infrastructure and insecure housing as well as improving skills and creating well-paid jobs.

The proposed plan will encourage economic growth “at scale and pace”, with new funding and flexibilities. It will look to maximise the opportunities of devolution, including the promise of a single funding settlement from the Treasury instead of piecemeal funding with departmental restrictions.