Over £2 million of European funding has been secured by Calderdale Council to help provide a new relief road for Sowerby Bridge.
The new road will link the existing road at Hollas Lane to Fall Lane/Holmes Road, near the town centre, providing significant improvement to the local network for businesses and residents.
The project, costing £4.7 million in total, is part of the council’s wider scheme for Sowerby Bridge and the Copley Valley, which includes the construction of new homes and employment units, essential flood remediation works, a new flood storage area and a nature reserve.
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Economy and Environment, Cllr Barry Collins said:
“This development is a key priority for the Council, and one which we have wanted to deliver for a long time. I’m delighted that we have now secured European funding to take it another step forward.
“The relief road will improve traffic flow and reduce congestion, allowing local businesses to thrive and encourage new ones to the area. It should also bring wider economic benefits by unlocking land for employment and additional, much needed housing.”
In addition, the new road project offers the possibility of improvements to traffic and access problems at Mearclough Bridge, over the River Calder, which is heavily used by goods vehicles and often subject to queuing at the nearby waste transfer station.
The £2.2 million grant to Calderdale has been awarded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of their Yorkshire and Humber Operational Programme 2007 – 2013. The Council will fund the remaining £2.5 million for the scheme from land sales generated as part of the overall development.
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet will be asked to recommend to full Council that it approve a funding agreement with The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to secure the grant funding for the scheme at the next meeting on Monday 14 July 2014 at 6pm at Halifax Town Hall.