Following the West Yorkshire Combined Authorities approval of the Outline Business Case (OBC) submission for the Bradford Shipley Route Improvement Scheme in December 2019 The report of the Strategic Director Place (Document “AM”) seeks:

(1)       Executive’s approval to the principles of the Bradford Shipley Route           Improvement Scheme for two of the presented scheme options in the             OBC:

            (i)         Option 1 – Preferred Option “with” new Valley Road Railway                                     Bridge (Appendix A)

            (ii)        Option 2 – Preferred Option “without” new Valley Road Railway                   bridge (Appendix B)

(2)       Approval to make contact with land owners / affected parties to explore      the extents to which it may be possible to acquire land and rights        needed for the scheme through voluntary negotiation.

Recommended –

That the Executive resolve as follows:

(1)       Support and approve proposals described in both of the preferred       “with” and “without” new Valley Road railway bridge options as    the preferred approach to the delivery of the Bradford Shipley          Route Improvement Scheme agreed by the West Yorkshire         Combined Authority’s Outline Business Case submission      approval.

(2)       That the Executive approves making contact with land owners /            affected parties to explore the extents to which it may be possible       to acquire land and rights needed for the scheme through     voluntary negotiation.

(3)       That a further Report is presented to the Executive on the           outcome of preliminary enquires with landowners and affected          parties, along with recommendations on whether it may be          necessary to rely on the use of compulsory purchase powers to           support the scheme.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee: Regeneration and Environment

(Richard Gelder – 01274 437603)

Resolved –

(1)       That the proposals described in both of the preferred “with” and         “without” new Valley Road railway bridge options as the preferred            approach to the delivery of the Bradford Shipley Route             Improvement Scheme agreed by the West Yorkshire Combined             Authority’s Outline Business Case submission approval be      supported and approved.

(2)       That making contact with land owners / affected parties to explore the extent to which it may be possible to acquire land and rights needed for the scheme through voluntary negotiation be approved.

(3)       That a further report be presented to the Executive on the           outcome of preliminary enquiries with landowners and affected         parties, along with recommendations on whether it may be          necessary to rely on the use of compulsory purchase powers to          support the scheme.

ACTION: Strategic Director Place

Overview and Scrutiny Committee: Regeneration and Environment

(Richard Gelder – 01274 437603)

Following the West Yorkshire Combined Authorities approval of the Outline Business Case (OBC) submission for the Bradford Shipley Route Improvement Scheme in December 2019, the report of the Strategic Director Place (Document “AM”) sought:

(1)       Executive’s approval to the principles of the Bradford Shipley           Route             Improvement Scheme for two of the presented scheme           options in the OBC:

            (i)         Option 1 – Preferred Option “with” new Valley Road                                        Railway Bridge (Appendix A)

            (ii)        Option 2 – Preferred Option “without” new Valley Road                                  Railway bridge (Appendix B)

(2)       Approval to make contact with land owners / affected parties to         explore the extents to which it may be possible to acquire land   and rights needed for the scheme through voluntary negotiation.

The Assistant Director gave a PowerPoint presentation setting out the main thrust of the proposals and the benefits that would accrue from the project, including improved journey times as well as environmental benefits through the re-naturalisation of Bradford Beck.

The Chair of the Friends of Bradford Beck was present at the meeting and welcomed the proposals to open up the Beck, stating that this had taken many years to come to fruition.  He added that the beck was an asset to the city and he cautioned against over engineering the project.

The Regeneration, Planning and Transport Portfolio Holder welcomed the proposals to open up the Beck, adding that this was a wide ranging scheme which would create a major boost for the area. 

Resolved –

(1)       That the proposals described in both of the preferred “with” and         “without” new Valley Road railway bridge options as the preferred            approach to the delivery of the Bradford Shipley Route             Improvement Scheme agreed by the West Yorkshire Combined             Authority’s Outline Business Case submission approval be      supported and approved.

(2)       That making contact with land owners / affected parties to explore the extent to which it may be possible to acquire land and rights needed for the scheme through voluntary negotiation be approved.

(3)       That a further report be presented to the Executive on the           outcome of preliminary enquiries with landowners and affected         parties, along with recommendations on whether it may be          necessary to rely on the use of compulsory purchase powers to          support the scheme.

ACTION: Strategic Director Place

Overview and Scrutiny Committee: Regeneration and Environment