Councillors visited Halifax Bus Station earlier today (Friday 12 November) to look at the progress being made on the construction of a new £17.7 million state-of-the-art facility delivered by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority in partnership with Calderdale Council.
The bus station has been partially closed to the public since early September to enable construction work to start on site.
Alongside improved passenger facilities and better access to the town centre, plans for the new station include environmentally friendly features, such as measures to enable the future introduction of electric bus charging points, bike parking and solar panels, as well as a living roof complete with plants. Overall, the scheme will deliver more green space as well as other environmental benefits.
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Transport Committee, and Cllr Jane Scullion, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Strategy, were joined on site by Michael Fitzsimons, Principal of Trinity Sixth Form Academy at neighbouring Northgate in the town centre.
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe said:
“We are pleased to be working in partnership with Calderdale Council on the redevelopment of Halifax Bus Station, which will make it easier for people to move around our region.
“It is more important than ever that we continue to invest in a modern, accessible transport network, which supports economic growth by connecting more people with jobs, training and education.
“Our region deserves a transport system which gets people to where they need to go, but also fills them with pride and with the confidence that we are moving forwards to deliver prosperity and achieve our aim of becoming a net zero carbon economy by 2038.”
Cllr Jane Scullion said:
“It’s exciting to see work progressing well on the transformation of Halifax Bus Station. We’re ambitious about the future of Calderdale, and this project forms part of the major investment going into regeneration in Halifax and across the borough.
“Improving travel into and around Halifax and Calderdale will play a key role in our inclusive economic recovery from the pandemic and the sustainability of our towns.
“Tackling the climate emergency is another priority for us, and the bus station’s proposed new modern and environmentally-friendly features will help cut carbon emissions and protect the planet.”
Ongoing work to regenerate Northgate House, which is part-funded by the Combined Authority, includes a Calderdale Council scheme that has transformed the former central library into Trinity Sixth Form Academy.
The remainder of the Northgate House site will provide high-quality retail and office space in the heart of Halifax, helping boost skills, job opportunities and town centre footfall, while also acting as a catalyst for further investment.
Michael Fitzsimons said:
“We are delighted with the bus station regeneration project. Our students are heavily reliant on public transport and having a bus station next door means that we are easily accessible from places like Todmorden, Hebden Bridge, Bradford and Brighouse.
“It provides the young people of Calderdale with an opportunity to access a world class education from an outstanding provider, which is on their doorstep.
“Being centrally located also means that we are then able to tap into local projects, partner up with local business and provide learners with experiences that bring their learning to life. Halifax is an exciting place to be right now.”
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said:
“In my manifesto, I committed to improving public transport, connecting more people with opportunities and helping tackle the climate emergency on our way to becoming a net zero carbon economy by 2038.
“That is why I am delighted to see work progressing on this new bus station, which will benefit passengers in Halifax and beyond.
“We want buses to be the first choice for travel in West Yorkshire – not because you do not have a car, but because they are more affordable, convenient to use, and better for the environment.”
The new Halifax Bus Station is part of a wider package of schemes to transform the way people travel in and around the town.
It is being delivered with money from the Leeds City Region Transforming Cities Fund, which is helping to transform gateways to towns and cities across the region by making it easier to walk, cycle and use public transport.
Construction work is expected to continue until summer 2023.
Most bus services are running from the town centre during the day with some evening services returning to the station from 7pm. Some services are remaining on site during construction.
Passengers are being asked to visit wymetro.com/halifaxbusstationworks(external link) or call 0113 245 7676 for travel information.
Find out more information about the new bus station at westyorks-ca.gov.uk/hbs(external link).