By KLTV Newsdesk –

£10.5m facility promises greener, more accessible public transport for West Yorkshire

The first bus station in West Yorkshire to carry the new Weaver Network branding is beginning to rise in Heckmondwike.

The £10.5 million facility, being delivered by Kirklees Council in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, will offer more stops, extra indoor seating, cycle parking, solar panels, a green roof, a Changing Places room and communal outdoor spaces.

Construction began last year, with the new hub set to open to passengers in spring 2026.

A Unified Travel Network

The Weaver Network, launched earlier this year, will introduce a single, unified identity across buses, trains and trams in West Yorkshire.

The scheme aims to make sustainable travel simpler and more appealing for passengers.

As part of the roll-out, the branding will gradually appear across transport infrastructure as repairs, upgrades and new investments are made.

The initiative also prepares the region for the arrival of its first franchised buses in 2027.

A Visit from the Mayor

Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin and Kirklees councillors Moses Crook and Eric Firth recently toured the construction site alongside pupils from Holy Spirit Catholic Primary Academy, who were finalists in a drawing competition organised by contractor RG Carter.

The children were invited to sign a section of concrete wall that will later be built over, leaving behind a hidden but lasting mark on the new station.

Six-year-old Angel, winner of the competition on the theme “What community means to me”, said she “couldn’t wait” to see her artwork displayed on hoardings in the town centre.

New visualisations of the station, complete with Weaver Network branding (subject to planning approval), were also released to coincide with the visit.

Voices from the Community

Mayor Tracy Brabin said: “It was a pleasure to be shown around the site and see the progress being made on this fantastic new bus station for Heckmondwike.

Our vision for an integrated Weaver Network, offering reliable and seamless travel whether people are travelling by bus, tram or train, includes facilities that are welcoming and accessible for all.

By encouraging more people to use public transport, we’re helping to create a greener, better-connected West Yorkshire.”

Councillor Moses Crook, Deputy Leader of Kirklees Council and Cabinet Member for Housing and Transport, added: “This first new Weaver-branded bus station gives confidence that bus franchising will soon make travelling from A to B by public transport a much more attractive, reliable and accessible option.

It’s so much more than transport, it’s prominence within the town centre and enhancement of the public spaces and accessible facilities, will provide a place people can enjoy and relax.

It’s paving the way for the wider regeneration plans as we invest in Heckmondwike and unlock more social and economic benefits for the community.”

David Spencer, project manager at RG Carter, said: “We are proud to be working in partnership with Kirklees Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to deliver their vision for improved local transport.

The site tour was a great opportunity to show the Mayor of West Yorkshire and local school pupils the progress on the new Heckmondwike Bus Hub, and to involve them in leaving their own mark on the development.

This project will transform a vital facility, supporting both the local community and the town’s economy for years to come.”

Claire Bass, headteacher at Holy Spirit Catholic Primary Academy, said: “The children had a wonderful time on their recent visit to the Heckmondwike bus station, and it was a great opportunity to see the project first hand.

We especially liked the fact that they have incorporated a living roof and solar panels into the plans as these are all great for the environment; taking care of God’s world is very important to all of us at Holy Spirit Catholic Primary Academy.

The children enjoyed meeting the Mayor and writing on the wall in the new station, knowing that they have left their mark there forever.”