Talks to begin on compulsory purchases for land needed for next phase of £120m A629 scheme

Calderdale Council Cabinet has agreed negotiations can start to compulsorily purchase land and property to drive forward the next phase of an ambitious £120 million road scheme.

Cabinet approved compulsory purchase orders for phase four of improvements to the A629, which links Halifax and Huddersfield, and agree up to £2.5 million could be spent to buy the land.

This is subject to the West Yorkshire Plus Transport Fund, administered by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, making available funds to reimburse the council promptly.

Phase four, which is described as a “critical” element of the overall scheme, should improve the highways between Halifax and Huddersfield for general traffic, enable an express bus service to be established and will take in road widening, lay-by works, bus stop rationalisation and an end-to-end cycling and walking route between the two towns, at a cost of around £25 million.

Ultimately the scheme is being funded from the West Yorkshire Plus Transport Fund, a £1 billion fund to pay for transport improvements in West Yorkshire and York, and is being delivered by Calderdale and Kirklees councils.

Cabinet also approved a Side Roads Order to allow phase four to be delivered, enabling issues like road junctions to be tackled.

Calderdale Council’s Cabinet member for Regeneration and Resources, Coun Jane Scullion (Lab, Luddenden Foot), said at the moment the scheme was very much a conceptual design, in its early stages and aspects might change.

It is hoped the improvements will help the council tackle air pollution issues, supporting economic growth and reducing journey times.