West Yorkshire Combined Authority announce £7m transformational projects fund

A £7m fund to improve economic prospects of communities across the Leeds City Region has been agreed by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

The fund is set to support the creation of a pipeline of transformational projects across the region.

As part of the Combined Authority’s commitment to pursuing inclusive growth which benefits all parts of the Leeds City Region, the money also provides the opportunity to re-shape the future economic geography of the region.

Members of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority agreed to earmark £7m to support feasibility work looking at the needs of deprived communities including in transport, housing, employment and skills.

Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, chair of the Combined Authority, said: “This is a great example of how we are putting the Combined Authority’s commitment to inclusive growth into practice by supporting the development of projects which could dramatically improve access to jobs, education and services.

“The feasibility work this money will support is the first stage to securing the larger sums that will be needed to bring about the major improvements we want to see for these communities.”

The £7m has been earmarked from the £12.5m Transformational Fund agreed as part of the £1bn Growth Deal secured from the Government.

Combined Authority members separately agreed to commit £500k from the Transformational Fund to support future proposals for the redevelopment of Bradford Interchange.

The Transformational Fund is already supporting feasibility work on proposals for the South Featherstone Link Road, York Outer Ring Road dualling and the North Kirklees Orbital Route.