Tracy Brabin, the Mayor of West Yorkshire met students from Calderdale College at the new Halifax Bus Station construction site yesterday (Wednesday 2 November), as 20 new green skilled jobs were also pledged.
The bus station has been partially closed to the public since September 2021 for construction of a new £17.7 million state-of-the-art facility delivered by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Calderdale Council.
The new bus station will give people better access to the town. It will also have solar panels, bike parking and measures to enable the future introduction of electric bus charging points.
The visit included an opportunity to take a first look at the new “green roof”, which will be covered in plants, adding to the bus station’s environmental credentials.
It also coincided with contractors Willmott Dixon making a pledge to create 20 well-paid, skilled green jobs across the region by 2025.
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire said:
“I am committed to creating 1,000 well-paid, skilled jobs for young people. It’s great to see West Yorkshire businesses support this ambition.
“Getting more people into jobs and improving public transport are at the heart of making our region an even better place to live and work.
“This £17.7 million investment in a new Halifax Bus Station will help us do both of these things.”
Students of all ages – from primary schools to further education colleges and universities – are visiting the bus station to learn more about the scheme and careers in the industry.
This is part of a Green Skills Academy running alongside the construction of the new bus station, helping generate interest and excitement among young people.
Jayne Wroot, Intervention Officer for Professional Trades at Calderdale College, said:
“Our students benefit enormously from this type of hands-on experience of a live construction site, which helps bring their learning to life.
“From learning about the scheme to building their skills and finding out more about the career opportunities available to them, their experience at Halifax Bus Station has been invaluable.
“Many of our students also travel by bus and will benefit from the new station when it opens next year.”
Cllr Jane Scullion, Calderdale Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Strategy, said:
“It was great to visit the Halifax bus station site to see how well work is progressing and also to welcome local young people who were able to learn more about the scheme and future career opportunities.
“The many improvements taking place at the bus station are part of a multi-million pound investment which will transform bus travel in and around Halifax and improve facilities for passengers.
“The green roof is one of many environmentally friendly features being installed as part of the development, supporting our ambition to tackle the climate emergency and reduce carbon emissions.”
Chris Yates, Yorkshire director for Willmott Dixon, said:
“Sustainability and social value are at the heart of our business and we are proud to commit to creating 20 high-paid, skilled green jobs across the region by 2025.
“We are proud to be working in partnership with West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Calderdale Council to play our part in shaping the future of Halifax town centre and creating a fantastic gateway for local people. The project’s dynamic design, including the green roof, will boost the town centre’s biodiversity and create a really innovative, vibrant space.”
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 Combined Authority’s Transforming Cities Fund, which is aimed at making it easier to walk, cycle and use public transport. This funding was agreed as part of the mayoral devolution deal in March 2020.
Construction work is expected to continue until summer 2023.
Find out more information about the new bus station at westyorks-ca.gov.uk/hbs(external link).
ENDS