Katherine Bavage is the Policy Manager for the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Mass Transit Programme. She is leading delivery of the region’s first Rail and Mass Transit Growth Prospectus, linked to developing scheme specific land use policy in the form of a Mass Transit Spatial Development Framework.
Trams in West Yorkshire represent one of the region’s largest opportunities for growth and regeneration in decades.
In her keynote address at TRANSPORT Smart Class, North of England 2025, Katherine explored how WYCA plans to strategically integrate placemaking, housing, and regeneration into the case for a regional mass transit system – leveraging recent changes to the Green Book and appraisal processes to unlock long-term economic and social value for West Yorkshire.
Summary of presentation highlights:
- The West Yorkshire Context…
- 2,400,000 population, 7 universities, over 170 languages spoken, 290,000+ people working in financial and professional services, 34,900 graduates, an economy worth £60 billion GVA;
- Accounting for 3% of UK GVA, the West Yorkshire region is the UK’s largest economy outside of London, and is the single biggest contributor to the Northern Powerhouse in economic terms;
- West Yorkshire’s transport network has helped grow the region to this point, but is reaching the limit of how much economic, housing, and employment growth it can support. The rail network is constrained by its Victorian infrastructure, which in many places is no longer fit for purpose. Journey times are slow compared to national averages, and in many cases perform poorly compared to the car;
- What is West Yorkshire Mass Transit?
- Mass Transit is a large-scale public transport system in an urban area, using high-capacity buses, trams or tram-trains. Trams are able to carry approximately four times the number of passengers of a typical bus. Trams can also be segregated from traffic, spending less time sat in traffic jams, making them quicker and more reliable than other modes;
- West Yorkshire Mass Transit will be developed in phases and eventually serve all five of West Yorkshire’s districts: Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, Huddersfield and Halifax;
- As WYCA develop Mass Transit, they will identify the best routes and technologies for the system;
- For Phase One, proposing to build a tram between Leeds and Bradford to provide high quality, modern and accessible journeys;
- Phase one routes options…
- In Summer 2024, WYCA took ten route options across the two lines to a consultation with the public;
- Leeds Line – Key agglomeration generators in city centre, inc. St James’s Hospital, Arena, Universities and retail/business core; Key growth locations south of River Aire, inc. South Bank, Elland Road and White Rose;
- Bradford Line – Combined cities’ population of 1.3m; Significant commuter markets between cities on most congested highway routes into Leeds; Key growth and regeneration locations in Bradford city centre and Southern Gateway;
- The Bradford New Station and improvements to capacity in and around Leeds Station are key interdependent projects that will shape longer-term development of future phases and maximise the benefits of the Phase 1 Mass Transit routes;
- Mass Transit – Place and Regeneration…
- Opportunities for Mass Transit – Mass Transit is a transformational opportunity for West Yorkshire; By aligning to placemaking, housing and regeneration objectives, Mass Transit can act as a catalyst for comprehensive regional change; Proposed changes to the Green Book appraisal methodology align with the case for the economic and social benefits of investment in Mass Transit;
- Strategic Placemaking Approach – Mass Transit is about more than transport; The WYCA is committed to a transport system which actively shapes the places it serves; The vision is for stops and stops and stations to become focal points of community activity – which celebrate West Yorkshire’s built and natural environment;
- Integration with Existing Communities – Mass Transit can connect and enhance existing communities while supporting new development; Also create opportunities to revitalise neighbourhoods, improve public spaces, and enhance community connectivity;
- Local Growth Plan: The Local Growth Plan identifies three Corridors of Opportunity for West Yorkshire – Western Growth Corridor (Leeds – Bradford – Halifax), Southern Growth Corridor (Leeds – Dewsbury – Huddersfield), Eastern Growth Corridor (Leeds – Castleford – Wakefield); The Southern Growth Corridor, centred on urban extensions at Dewsbury Riverside and Leeds South Bank, is key for providing connections via Mass Transit; By developing these corridors, WYCA can maximise agglomeration benefits by connecting major urban centres;
- Housing Growth and Opportunities for Regeneration – Connectivity underpins solution for addressing the region’s housing needs; Challenges with viability of brownfield development has limited housing delivery; By improving connectivity to brownfield sites, Mass Transit can support development viability and regeneration objectives; Aligns with Brownfield Housing Fund, which aims to deliver 5,400 homes on brownfield sites across West Yorkshire;
- Changes to the Green Book – 2020/2025 Green Book Reviews mark a shift in transport investment appraisal, moving away from Benefit-Cost Ratios; As a place-based initiative, Mass Transit is well positioned to capitalise on the Treasury’s move towards place-based business cases; Improved guidance on appraising transformational change will ensure that the long-terms benefits of infrastructure investment are fully accounted for;
- Wider Economic and Social Benefits – Investment in trams for West Yorkshire will connect communities to new horizons and new opportunities; Mass Transit can create significant opportunities for agglomeration benefits for West Yorkshire by increasing the density of economic activity; By connecting major West Yorkshire employment centres, WYCA can drive productivity growth through improved labour market matching, knowledge spillovers and supply chain efficiencies;
- Join the #TeamWYTram Business Ambassador Network – Mass Transit will only succeed if businesses are at the heart of it. Scan the QR code on the slides to join!
If you meet our regular delegate qualification criteria but were unable to join us at Liverpool Town Hall for the live in-person event on July 3rd, CLICK HERE and complete the short “Download form” (located at the bottom of the post) to receive a unique link enabling free access to the presentation video recordings and slides (including the film footage and slides from Katherine’s keynote).
Those qualifying to receive the rich presentation content from this event include commissioning, procurement, trialling, partnering and policy leads, senior influencers, strategic decision makers, programme managers and planners from local authorities (e.g. city, borough, metropolitan, district and county councils); public transport operators; regional transport partnerships, sub-regional transport bodies, combined authorities, integrated transport authorities and passenger transport executives; highways authorities and road operators; government and supporting national transport agencies; non-governmental organisations; fleet operators, parking operators, prime contractors etc.
