The trio of resignations from the transport project come within just six months

The £2.5bn plan to bring trams back to the streets of Leeds has suffered another senior departure, with a third key figure leaving the project in just six months.

West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s head of mass transit place and consents, Stacey White, has this week left the organisation to join Sheffield City Council, after four years on the project.

The latest move comes after Mike Birch, West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s mass transit director, stood down in April, saying a “ very different leadership focus” was required for the £2.5bn tram plan.

Mr Birch was brought in in March last year, to lead on Mayor Tracy Brabin’s pledge to bring trams back to West Yorkshire.

Not long after, Simon Warburton, the experienced executive director for transport, followed, saying he was pursuing “the next stage of my career”.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves and West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin (Image: WYCA)

placeholder image — Chancellor Rachel Reeves and West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin (Image: WYCA)

Speaking about her departure Ms White said: “I’m incredibly proud of the things we have achieved together and will continue to cheer from the sidelines.”

A West Yorkshire Combined Authority spokesperson said: “Mass Transit will be one of the largest infrastructure projects in the country, and we are always taking steps to make sure we maintain and build on the technical expertise we already have on hand to deliver it.

“Due to the length of time it takes to deliver long-term projects like Mass Transit, it is normal to see senior staff move elsewhere to progress their careers mid-project, alongside new people joining the team.

“Stacey led on our planning workstream, and leaves the Mass Transit programme in a stronger place.

“We thank her for her enthusiasm and drive to make a better-connected West Yorkshire, and wish her well in her new role.”

The trio of resignations come amid friction between the combined authority and Whitehall.

Ms Brabin has been critical of the bureaucracy involved with the project, with it slated to be completed in the late 2030s.

The completion date was pushed back after a critical review by Treasury body, the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (Nista).

This instructed WYCA to change its approach, which delayed work on the route and planning process.

New Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged to hand down greater powers to mayors around transport, with devolution being a key plank of his agenda.

The Government is currently consulting on giving mayors the final say over mass transit projects in their regions.