Government Rejects Case For Leeds Trolleybus Scheme

The Department For Transport has today rejected the case for the planned New Generation Transport (NGT) scheme for Leeds arguing modern hybrid buses could achieve bigger benefits than the trolleybus idea but has promised the £173m contribution it was to make to the scheme will be ring-fenced for the city.

A Department for Transport spokesman said: “After a full public inquiry, the independent Planning Inspector produced a detailed report which said the Leeds Trolleybus system is not suitable for development. We have carefully considered the findings and accepted the clear recommendation.

“We are disappointed the local authorities cannot proceed with the Trolleybus but £173 million of DfT funding will be retained so the right public transport scheme in Leeds can be developed as quickly as possible.

“We will now fully support Leeds City Council, West Yorkshire Combined Authority on those next steps as the government continues to invest in Yorkshire and helps deliver the Northern Powerhouse.”

The decision immaterial whether it was a yay or a nay has been a long time coming since the 72-day planning inquiry in 2014 which cost more than £2m.

 Councillor Judith Blake, leader of Leeds City Council, said:

“It’s a relief to everyone concerned that a decision has finally been made, although the length of time taken to get there has been very frustrating.

“Leeds has been let down by successive Governments in Whitehall on transport, first Supertram and now with NGT. Each occasion setting public transport in the city back many years.

“I’m pleased Leeds will still be allocated the funding and look forward to working with our partners to bring forward the public transport improvements Leeds so desperately needs as quickly as possible.”

Councillor Richard Lewis, executive member for regeneration, transport and planning, said:

“NGT would have brought significant economic benefit to Leeds as well as tackling the congestion and unacceptable travel times on one of the main routes into the city.

“We now need to work out -alongside Central Government- how to use the £173.5 million earmarked for Leeds to provide better transport, help people move around the city and improve air quality in Leeds.”

Responding to today’s announcement by the government on the planned New Generation Transport (NGT) scheme for Leeds, West Yorkshire Combined Authority Transport Committee Chair Cllr Keith Wakefield said: 

“Today’s news is a frustrating reminder that despite the government’s emphasis on devolution, we still find ourselves subject to decisions made remotely in Whitehall on local matters.

"Developing NGT in line with government advice and complying with the Department for Transport's lengthy approval process since 2007 has cost approaching £27m. However, land acquired for the scheme has a value of around £10m and we will now review which sites can be released so that the proceeds can be invested in transport improvements and initiatives to support economic growth.

“The government has admitted in the decision letter published today that NGT represented good value for money. The letter states the Department for Transport confirmed Programme Entry in July 2012 and the ‘decision to allocate funding for the scheme was based specifically on an assessment of the value for money, affordability and deliverability of the scheme.’

“The announcement that the £173.5m committed for NGT has been ring-fenced for public transport investment in Leeds does mean we can build upon our key achievements, such as the new Apperley Bridge rail station and Leeds Station Southern Entrance, which are already in place, and the new Kirkstall Forge and Low Moor stations, due to open soon.

“We are already demonstrating this through our 10-year, £1bn Transport Fund programme of strategic transport schemes designed to accelerate growth and create up to 20,000 jobs, funded through our City Region Growth Deal.

“And we are committed to developing a fully integrated metro-style transport system for the City Region with tram train at its heart and will now work with government to make that a reality.”