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Investment Board - Thursday, 16th July, 2026 11.00 am
July 16, 2026 at 11:00 am Investment Board View on council websiteSummary
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The Investment Board of West Yorkshire Combined Authority met on Thursday 16 July 2026, approving significant funding for transport infrastructure, skills development, economic growth initiatives, regeneration projects, environmental improvements, and sports facilities. Key decisions included allocating over £650,000 for bus priority measures on South Accommodation Road in Leeds, extending the delivery timeline and adjusting the scope of the Brighouse Flood Alleviation Scheme, and approving substantial funding for various business support programmes.
Transport and Local Infrastructure
The Board approved the progression of the Bus Hotspots South Accommodation Road scheme in Leeds through to delivery. This project will receive £654,734 in Combined Authority funding, bringing the total to £791,000, with a total scheme cost of £805,642. The scheme aims to improve bus journey times and reliability by converting a general traffic lane to a 24-hour bus lane and signalising the Atkinson Street roundabout. Councillor Salma Arif, Deputy Leader of Leeds City Council with executive responsibility for the economy, expressed strong support for the scheme, highlighting its benefits for commuters from across the region.
Skills and Employment Support
Several initiatives focused on skills and employment were approved. The Addressing Tutor Shortages in Further Education scheme received approval to extend its delivery timescales to March 2029 and to refocus its scope on engineering and manufacturing sectors, removing construction. This change aims to increase engagement with industry expertise to benefit students.
The Construction Skills Capital programme was approved, allocating up to £6.73 million to enhance construction training capacity across West Yorkshire's Further Education providers. Leeds College of Building will act as the regional hub for this initiative. Councillor Andrew Judson, Deputy Leader of Bradford Metropolitan District Council, expressed his support but also reiterated his hope for the return of £6 million funding previously allocated to a Skills College in Keighley.
The Board also approved, in principle, the acceptance of up to £10 million in funding for an Apprenticeship Brokerage pilot, should the application to the government be successful. This pilot aims to increase apprenticeship take-up by connecting employers with prospective apprentices and simplifying the process. The approval of the scheme was delegated to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Mayor.
The WorkWell Programme, aimed at supporting individuals with health conditions to enter or remain in work, received approval for the delegation of system leadership and associated funding of over £10 million over three years from the West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board to the Combined Authority. Councillor Stephen Dransfield from Kirklees highlighted the importance of addressing mental health issues among young people within the programme.
Economic Development
Four schemes under the economic development theme were approved. The Business Support Infrastructure (Ecosystem) scheme received up to £7 million in funding, with a total scheme value of up to £8.9 million, to create a more integrated and accessible business support system across West Yorkshire, adopting a no wrong door
approach. Councillor Sarah Courtney welcomed this initiative, noting its potential to provide greater autonomy within local regions.
The Business Support Infrastructure (Local Authority Framework) scheme was approved with up to £9.2 million in funding. This will enable local authorities to deliver tailored business support within their areas, operating under a shared regional framework and focusing on agreed outcomes.
The West Yorkshire Supply Chain Programme was approved with £2 million in funding, aiming to connect manufacturing businesses to national and international supply chains to diversify their customer base and improve procurement readiness. Mayor Tracy Brabin highlighted the critical role of West Yorkshire businesses in supplying components for vital sectors, such as satellites.
The Made Smarter (Manufacturing) scheme, part of a national programme, received up to £1.09 million in funding towards a total scheme cost of £2.4 million. This programme aims to help manufacturing SMEs adopt digital tools to improve productivity and sustainability.
Regeneration
The Investment Zone Capital – Old Medical School project in Leeds was approved to proceed to the outline business case stage. This project aims to refurbish the listed Old Medical School to create innovation workspace for the health tech sector, with a potential Combined Authority contribution of up to £20 million. Councillor Matthew Pinder from Wakefield Council raised a query about the Langthwaite business park and the business ADE Power, seeking assurance that their expansion plans would be considered within regeneration efforts. Ruth Davison, Interim Director of Environment and Place, confirmed a meeting was scheduled to discuss this.
The Environment and Climate Change
The Home Energy West Yorkshire – Phase 2 Home Energy Loan Scheme was approved, with the Combined Authority providing £6.97 million in funding. This scheme offers low-interest loans to owner-occupiers and private landlords for home retrofitting to improve energy efficiency and reduce bills. Councillor Andrew Judson raised a concern about ensuring tenants benefit from private landlord loans, particularly regarding battery storage systems.
The Brighouse Flood Alleviation Scheme Phase 1 received approval for a change request to extend its delivery timescales to March 2028 and to remove the Phoenix Bridge element, as this work has already been delivered through a separate transport scheme. Councillor Keith Ingle, Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration in Calderdale, spoke in strong support of the scheme, highlighting the devastating impact of flooding in the Calder Valley. Councillor Stephan Dransfield raised concerns about water being diverted downstream when flooding is mitigated in one area, a point echoed by Councillor Courtney regarding the Environment Agency's focus on slowing water flow upstream.
Creative Industries, Culture, Heritage and Sport
The West Yorkshire Sports Facilities Provision (3G Pitches) programme was approved to proceed to the strategic assessment stage, with £200,000 in development funding. This initiative aims to increase access to all-weather sports pitches across the region, with at least one pitch in each local authority area. Councillor Salma Arif and Councillor Keith Ingle both spoke in favour, highlighting the need for such facilities to combat anti-social behaviour and improve community well-being.
Delegated decisions linked to this meeting
Decision summaries below are AI-generated from the council’s published record. Check the council source or the full decision page before relying on them.
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Skills and Employment Support
Recommendations ApprovedThe Investment Board approved changes to the Addressing Tutor Shortages in Further Education scheme, extending delivery to March 2029 and removing the construction sector from industry partnership coordination. The Board also approved the Construction Skills Capital scheme to proceed to business justification and delivery, allocating £6,730,042 in funding. Future approvals for both schemes will follow the outlined assurance pathway and tolerances.
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Skills and Employment Support
Recommendations ApprovedThe Investment Board approved changes to the Addressing Tutor Shortages in Further Education scheme, extending delivery timescales to March 2029 and removing the construction sector from industry partnership coordination. The Board also approved the Construction Skills Capital scheme to proceed to business justification and commence delivery, allocating £6,730,042 in funding. Future approvals for both schemes will follow the outlined assurance pathways and tolerances.
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Regeneration
Recommendations ApprovedThe Investment Board approved that the Old Medical School scheme proceeds through Decision Point 3 and that work commences on the Full Business Case. Future approvals will be made in accordance with the assurance pathway, approval route, and tolerances set out in the Business Case Summary. The Chief Executive, in consultation with the Mayor, is delegated to sign any related legal agreements.
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Creative Industries, Culture, Heritage and Sport
Recommendations ApprovedThe Investment Board decided on 16 July 2026 to approve the West Yorkshire Sports Facilities Provision (3G Pitches) programme proceeding through Decision Point 1 and commencing work on the Programme Business Case. The Board also approved development funding of up to £200,000 to progress the scheme to Decision Point 2 to 4. Future approvals will be made according to the assurance pathway, approval route, and tolerances outlined in the Business Case Summary.
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The Environment and Climate Change
Recommendations ApprovedThe Investment Board approved the Phase 2 Home Energy Loan Scheme to proceed through decision points 2 to 4 and commence delivery, allocating £6,974,412 in funding. The Board also approved a change request for the Brighouse Flood Alleviation Scheme Phase 1 to extend delivery timescales to March 2028 and reduce its scope by removing the Phoenix Bridge element. Future approvals for both schemes will follow the outlined assurance pathway, approval route, and tolerances.
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Workwell
Recommendations ApprovedThe Investment Board approved the delegation of system leadership for the WorkWell programme, including £10,038,000 in funding over three years, on 16 July 2026. The Board also approved a delegation to the Combined Authority's Chief Executive, in consultation with the Mayor, to approve WorkWell delivery plans.
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Transport and Local Infrastructure
Recommendations ApprovedThe West Yorkshire Combined Authority Investment Board approved the Bus Hotspots South Accommodation Road scheme to proceed through decision points 2 to 4 and commence delivery work on 16 July 2026. The Board approved Combined Authority funding of £654,734, bringing the total to £791,000 for the £805,642 scheme. Future approvals will follow the assurance pathway, approval route, and tolerances detailed in the Business Case Summary.
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Economic Development
Recommendations ApprovedThe Investment Board of West Yorkshire Combined Authority approved that the Business Support Infrastructure (Ecosystem) scheme proceeds through Decision Point 2 to 4 and that work commences on Activity 5, approving Combined Authority funding of up to £7,000,000 for the scheme on 16/07/2026. Future approvals will be made in accordance with the assurance pathway, approval route and tolerances set out in the Business Case Summary.
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Apprenticeship Brokerage
Recommendations ApprovedThe Investment Board of West Yorkshire Combined Authority considered and commented on the need for and scope of an Apprenticeship Brokerage Pilot. The Board approved, in principle, the acceptance of up to £10 million in funding should an application be successful, and delegated approval of the scheme to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Mayor.
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