Bus shake-up delayed as £60m West Yorkshire depot hits 'complexities'

Wakefield’s bus franchising process looks set to be delayed over “complexities” with building a new depot.

West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) has confirmed franchising of services in the city will not be fully completed until October 2028, nine months later than initially planned.

Wakefield Council described the decision as “very disappointing news for passengers in our district.”

WYCA is working to set up the Weaver Network – the new publicly controlled transport network that will roll out across the region in three phases starting next year

Round one, scheduled for May 2027, is expected to include buses primarily operating in Kirklees, Dewsbury, Huddersfield and parts of Leeds.

Wakefield’s franchising process had been earmarked for completion in January 2028 but has now been put back until later in the year.

A report to members of the WYCA Board said: “Due to complexities associated with delivery of a new-build depot in Wakefield, the launch of franchised services from the Wakefield depot is now anticipated to coincide with the launch of round three.”

Wakefield has been without a main bus depot since September 2024, when Arriva permanently closed its base on Barnsley Road.

The operator took emergency action following the discovery of serious structural problems in an engineering building.

WYCA formally submitted a planning application in March this year to build a new £60m zero-emission depot at Wakefield Council’s former transport depot at Newton Bar.

The proposed development includes parking and charging areas for up to 125 buses and a two-storey main building providing office space and a maintenance workshop.

The council’s planning and highways committee is expected to determine the application later this year.

When contacted, WYCA said the change would affect 25 out 75 services that will operate from the new Wakefield depot, with the remaining 50 on course to be completed by January 2028.

The authority also said passengers would begin to see franchised services from May next year on routes that operate into the district from neighbouring depots.

A WYCA spokesperson said: “We are investing £60 million into a brand new, all-electric bus depot for Wakefield to ensure the city can reap the full benefits of a bus network which will be under public control.

“This has come about because the existing Arriva bus depot has serious structural issues that were unknown to us when we took the decision to take control of the buses in 2024.

“While the vast majority of bus services in the district will move to franchising in January 2028 as planned, the complexities of delivering a new bus depot mean we have taken a decision to move the launch of some services until October 2028 to ensure the best experience for passengers.

“Once complete, the new depot will help deliver a better, more reliable bus network for Wakefield passengers.”

WYCA said it would continue to work with the council to see what support could be offered to services in Wakefield in the meantime.

Keith Anderson, the council’s cabinet member for highways, transport and planning, said: “This delay is very disappointing news for passengers in our district who have every right to expect a reliable and improving bus service.

“Wakefield has been the poor relation for too long.

“We seem to be continually at the back of the queue, and our communities deserve a much better service than they’re getting.

“We want to see real improvements like making two-hourly bus services hourly, and better frequencies on core routes between 6pm and 9pm when a lot of people want to travel.

“The West Yorkshire Mayor (Tracy Brabin) has made some big promises to local passengers about the benefits bus franchising will have in Wakefield.

“We’re going to hold her to account to make sure they are delivered.”