Have Your Say:
Newton Bar Bus Depot, Wakefield
West Yorkshire Combined Authority will soon submit a full planning application to Wakefield Council for a new bus depot at Newton Bar, Leeds Road, Wakefield. In advance of submitting a planning application, we are asking for views from the local community. You can submit comments using the comment form on this page.
Introduction
The proposal is to demolish part of the Council depot and office buildings and replace them with a modern bus depot. The new depot will support the introduction of a new zero-emission bus fleet to serve Wakefield.
The new depot is essential to improving the efficiency of Wakefield’s public transport network. The existing depot on Barnsley Road is no longer suitable for modern operational needs. The Newton Bar site has been chosen because of its existing use and close proximity to the city centre. This central location will help make services more reliable, improve operational efficiency, and reduce unnecessary bus mileage.
The development will also provide the facilities needed for an expanding electric fleet, bringing environmental benefits across the district. This proposal supports West Yorkshire’s ambition to become a net zero economy by 2038, improve air quality, and encourage more people to use public transport.
The scheme forms part of the Weaver Network, which aims to create a leading transport system for the region – connecting communities, supporting local businesses, and making sustainable travel easier and more accessible. The depot will also provide employment opportunities in the future for Wakefield.
Overview of the Proposed Development
The planning application will seek permission to demolish some of the buildings on the Council Highway Depot site and build a new modern bus depot. The proposed development includes:
- A two storey main building providing office space for administrative functions and a workshop for essential maintenance
- A separate building for bus cleaning
- Parking and charging areas for up to 125 buses
- Staff car parking and secure cycle parking
- Landscaping around the site to help screen the development and to reduce noise
- An acoustic fence along some boundaries to reduce noise for nearby residential properties on Bradford Road, White Hall Grange, and Lancaster Avenue
The depot will operate for most of a 24 hour period. Buses will typically leave between 04:00 and 07:00 and return between 19:00 and 01:00, based on service needs. The cleaning of buses will take place once they are back at the depot. The servicing and maintenance of buses will take place during the day and at night-time, again based on operational needs.
Office staff will work during normal daytime hours.
The Applicant
West Yorkshire Combined Authority was established in 2014 to create a better connected, prosperous, and safe region for everyone. Its work is guided by five key missions, including delivering a well connected region with a strong, sustainable transport system served by reliable and accessible public transport.
You can find out more about the Combined Authority on the Combined Authority’s website.
Site Context
The site measures approximately 2.65 hectares and is located west of Leeds Road, north of Link Road, and south of Newton Bar roundabout. It is a prominent gateway location on the edge of Wakefield city centre.
The surrounding area includes a mix of homes, shops, businesses, and open space.
The entirety of the site is within housing allocation HS01 in Wakefield Council’s Local Plan, with an indicative capacity of 181 homes and an area of 5.66 hectares. This allocation was carried forward from the previous local plan into the current Wakefield District Local Plan 2036. The proposed site for the bus depot has an area of 2.65 hectares, so takes up just under half of the land within the allocation.
Using the site for the bus depot would reuse part of the former Council depot (a brownfield site), helping to avoid building on open countryside.
Above: Aerial view of the proposed development
Design
The proposed development will transform the site with a contemporary design that uses modern materials and systems to reduce energy consumption and environmental impact. The building will incorporate sustainable construction principles and energy efficient technologies, helping the depot operate with a minimal carbon footprint.
Security and safety have been carefully considered. Measures include perimeter fencing, controlled access points, and CCTV. These features will help keep the site secure while maintaining a welcoming environment for staff and visitors.
Above: Aerial view of the proposed development
Above: An indicative aerial visual of the proposed bus depot – looking south down Leeds Road
Access
Access to the site will be from a new entrance point on Leeds Road. Bus movements will be kept separate from staff and visitor access to improve safety.
A pedestrian route will lead to the main office reception, directing visitors safely around the car park and away from bus operations.
Heritage
The site is not within a conservation area and does not contain any listed buildings.
Archaeological mitigation will be undertaken where necessary.
Flood Risk
The site lies within Flood Zone 1, indicating a low risk of flooding. A flood risk and drainage strategy will be submitted with the application
The scheme will use Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) to manage surface water, including controlled water discharge and clear routes for heavy rainfall. A drainage pond will be included to store surface water, improving drainage compared to the current arrangements.
Impact on Nearby Properties
The design has been carefully considered to minimise any impact on nearby homes. The depot buildings will be positioned well away from residential properties, with separation distances of more than 21 metres, helping to protect privacy or outlook.
Landscaping and acoustic fencing will provide additional screening and noise reduction. External lighting will be carefully designed to minimise any light spill, and a technical report will be submitted with the planning application to demonstrate how this will be achieved.
A Noise Impact Assessment will identify how noise will be managed – such as including acoustic barriers – to reduce potential impacts, particularly during night time hours. This assessment report be submitted with the planning application.
An Air Quality Assessment confirms that the development will have negligible impact on local air quality, with the introduction of electric buses providing wider air quality benefits across Wakefield. This assessment report be submitted with the planning application.
Landscape and Ecology
The development includes landscaping around the site boundary. Existing trees will be kept where possible, and new native planting will be added. Details will be included in the planning application submission.
The scheme is expected to deliver a 13.56% biodiversity net gain, exceeding the government’s 10% requirement. This means the site will support more wildlife after development than it does currently.
The scheme does not have any significant impacts on the environment, however, measures will be implemented as part of the scheme to protect wildlife. These may include bird and bat boxes, pollinator friendly planting and sensitive lighting, to reduce environmental impacts.
Above: Proposed Site Layout
Above: Aerial view of existing site
Above: Aerial view of existing site
Timeline
Please note the following dates are indicative. Some of the dates are subject to planning approval.
- Comment box open for local residents to submit comments – 16 January-9 February 2026
- Planning application submission – February 2026
- Planning application decision – Summer 2026
- Start on site – Summer 2026 (for early works)
- Depot operational – Summer 2028
Next Steps
After the Combined Authority has submitted the planning application, Wakefield Council will carry out a formal statutory consultation. As part of this process, the Council will write to local residents with notification that the planning application is available to view and comment on.
Ahead of the planning application submission, the Combined Authority is inviting comments on our proposals.
All comments received will be carefully considered by the project team and reported within the Statement of Community Involvement, with changes made where appropriate and feasible.
Please leave your comments by Monday 09 February 2026 using the form below.
If you do have comments or questions, you may wish to consider the following areas:
- Overall view: What is your overall opinion about the proposed electric bus depot at Newton Bar, and why?
- Location and operations: Do you feel the Newton Bar site is a suitable location for a depot? Are there local access or junction issues we should consider?
- Public benefits: Which outcomes matter most to you? (for example, cleaner air, more reliable services, brownfield regeneration, jobs and skills).
- Neighbour impacts: Are there any measures would you like us to consider in relation to noise, lighting or privacy?
- Design and site access: Are there improvements you would like to see to the appearance, landscaping, pedestrian and cycle routes, or the site entrance?
- Construction and community benefits: How should we best communicate with you during construction and operation?
If you need this information in an alternative format, or wish to contact the project team directly, please use:
- Email: lucy.brown@spawforths.co.uk.
- Phone: Spawforths’ consultation line 01924 873 873 (available Monday–Friday, 8:30am–5:00pm)
Updates about the project timeline, any drop in events, and the anticipated submission date will be shared on this webpage.