 The delivery of the West Yorkshire devolution deal, which will provide local control of more than £1.8 billion in funding for the region, took a significant step forward after the five West Yorkshire authorities, and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority agreed to go ahead with a public consultation - and now is your chance to have your say.
Responses to the public consultation will be considered by West Yorkshire councils and the Combined Authority in the summer before they are submitted to the Government as part of the parliamentary process to change the existing combined authority into a mayoral combined authority.
We are keen to hear the views of everyone, so people from right across the district can help shape the progress of the deal, from Bradford, Keighley, Shipley, Bingley, Ilkley and everywhere in-between.
The West Yorkshire devolution deal, announced in the March 2020 Budget, and the biggest ever of its kind, brings more than £1.8 billion of investment for West Yorkshire into local control. This includes £38 million per year for 30 years with significant freedoms to spend on local priorities.
It will also see the creation of a directly-elected Mayor for West Yorkshire to be elected in May 2021.
The deal means more money every single year for our region and will help get Bradford District to the top table with other mayoral authorities when it comes to new funding announcements. The deal will help to:
- Increase investment in skills and employment, building on the progress the district has already made in this area
- Improve public transport around the district with a focus on sustainable travel
- Give local people more of a say over the services and investments in our area
Specific projects identified so far, include:
- £500,000 of Government funding to support master planning in Bradford City Centre to maximise regeneration opportunities from Northern Powerhouse Rail – a city centre high speed stop would add up to £15bn to the Northern economy
- A package of measures to transform Bradford City Centre through pedestrianisation, new cycle infrastructure and better access to Bradford Interchange
- A new park-and-ride for South Bradford providing alternative access to the city centre and key employment sites
- The Government has also committed to working with Bradford Council on developing the district’s Act Early research hub which focuses on early interventions in childhood health to improve lives and opportunities for children and their families, building on the world-renowned work of Born in Bradford
Our district has already benefited from its membership of West Yorkshire Combined Authority, delivering for example £9.3m from the Transport Fund for congestion- busting improvements at Hard Ings Road, Keighley and £669,000 in Growth Deal funding for Bradford College, and Shipley College’s Salt Building to contribute to developing a skilled and flexible workforce. The proposed devolution deal will bring much more.
Have your say
You can take part in the consultation from 25 May to 19 July on the devolution deal and proposals for a directly elected mayor.
Find out more details on devolution plans and take part in the consulation now
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