Rail depot 'fantastic for area', says MP

Shipley's new MP has welcomed the approval of plans to build a £100m rail depot in the town.

Bradford Council has given permission for the Shipley Train Care Centre to be built next to the railway station, as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade programme.

The development on the former Crossley Evans scrapyard site is expected to be completed by 2027, bringing more than 90 jobs to the town.

Anna Dixon, newly elected Labour MP for Shipley, said it was “fantastic for the local area”.

The development was first announced in March by then rail minister Huw Merriman.

The Shipley depot will replace the Neville Hill facility in east Leeds, which will be temporarily shut as part of upcoming Transpennine route work, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The route upgrade is a multi-billion-pound scheme to improve services between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York.

When Neville Hill reopens, a depot will remain in Shipley to increase capacity.

Ms Dixon said: “I strongly welcome this week’s decision to give planning permission to the new Shipley rail depot.

"The town of Shipley has a long history with the rail industry and the jobs and investment this development will bring will be fantastic for the local area.

"The new depot will provide improved support to local rail infrastructure and give Shipley a substantial economic boost."

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s executive member for regeneration, planning and transport, said: “It’s good to see this exciting project for Shipley progressing.

"It is another multi million-pound regeneration project being delivered in the district, bringing local job opportunities as part of its construction, as well as over 90 permanent skilled posts being created in the longer term.

"The new depot will be more centrally located for operations on the Airedale and Wharfedale lines and returns train maintenance activity to the area, nearly 60 years after the closure of Manningham Depot in 1967.

"As well as increasing service reliability for rail service users, it will be a boost for the regeneration of Shipley."

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