Consultation begins on new Bradford transport plan

Bradford Council has launched a public consultation on proposed transport and place-making schemes, which aim to create a more attractive civic centre for the district and improve transport infrastructure.

The new schemes are expected to improve the city centre environment and introduce new walking, cycling and public transport infrastructure, and create a new pedestrianised approach to Bradford Interchange.

The plans will also extend the Leeds-Bradford Cycle Superhighway to the west of Bradford and develop a new Park and Ride site adjacent to Junction 2 of the M606, with a complementary Bus Expressway and cycle route along Manchester Road.

The new scheme follows a successful bid, submitted by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Bradford Council, to the Department for Transport’s Transforming Cities Fund, a major programme of transport infrastructure investment secured as part of the West Yorkshire devolution deal.

Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, leader of Bradford Council and chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, said: ‘Bradford’s Transforming Cities Fund programme will be essential to reducing car use and congestion across the city, improving the health of our residents, and helping us to achieve our aim of becoming the UK’s leading clean growth district.

‘Bradford is a district with a young and diverse demographic and a lot of potential. The schemes being brought forward will ensure we make the most of what Bradford has to offer, stimulating regeneration across the district and attracting further investment.’

The successful Transforming Cities Fund bid for the wider Leeds City Region will be funded through £317m from the Department for Transport, plus local match funding up to £140m.

Through the Transforming Cities Fund, Bradford Council has been allocated around £80m to deliver transport infrastructure and regeneration schemes to transform the city.

Some of the improvements planned include creating segregated cycleways, improving public spaces in the city centre with new greenery, and changing public transport infrastructure in the district.

The plan will also remove through traffic from key civic areas, helping to improve air quality and making walking and cycling more accessible between shopping and leisure areas.

Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, said: ‘Transformational schemes such as these being proposed in Bradford, combined with our efforts to improve public transport across West Yorkshire, will provide more people with more opportunity to choose to travel sustainably, whilst improving the civic landscape for all to enjoy. I would encourage everyone to take part in this important consultation.’

In related news, a new £800,000 support package will help to boost sustainable travel in Greater Manchester. 

Photo supplied by Bradford Council