Westgate Bus Hotspot Consultation

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This consultation has concluded, thank you to all those who took part. 

This consultation ran between 22 September 2025 to 12 October 2025, the information below was available during that time.

Share your feedback on plans to reduce bus delays at Westgate in Bradford city centre and improve the reliability of services using this route. 



About the scheme 

Bradford Council, in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, is proposing improvements to several bus delay hotspots across the Bradford district to create a more reliable bus network. 

Westgate in Bradford city centre has been identified as a bus hotspot and a priority location due to frequent congestion and delays. The proposed upgrades aim to reduce bus delays, improve the reliability of bus services, and enhance overall traffic flow for all road users. 

Why is this scheme being proposed? 

Bus services in parts of the Bradford district can be unreliable, particularly on routes frequently affected by congestion. These delays disrupt journey times, making public transport less dependable, with the impact being most felt by those who rely on buses to get around. 

Over 57,000 households in Bradford don’t have access to a car to get to work, school, appointments, childcare or to meet family and friends and they need reliable bus services. For many people, unreliable bus services make buses a less attractive transport option, increasing their reliance on car usage and further contributing to air pollution and congestion.  

We want to change this. We’re proposing improvements to enhance the reliability and accessibility of bus services that travel through Westgate, including the 617, 618, 620 and 621 services while also improving traffic flow, and creating safer, more welcoming environments for pedestrians and cyclists. 

What is being proposed at Westgate? 

At Westgate, between the junctions with John Street and White Abbey Road, the following measures are proposed:  

Travelling towards the city centre 

  • New inbound camera enforced bus lane between City Road and Lumb Lane. The existing left-hand general traffic lane would be converted to a bus lane, giving buses a dedicated route to bypass congestion. The inbound bus lane would continue from Rawson Road to Providence Street, providing a priority route for buses into the city centre. 

  • Improved pedestrian safety through realigned pedestrian crossings and traffic islands, making it safer to cross busy roads and improving overall traffic flow. 

  • Removed left-turn slip road from Westgate onto Lumb Lane to support the revised layout and bus priority improvements.  

Travelling out of the city centre  

  • New outbound camera enforced bus lane introduced between Providence Street and Baptist Place, running alongside two general traffic lanes to support more reliable journeys. Where the bus lane ends, buses and general traffic continuing straight ahead would merge. Two right-turn lanes would remain for vehicles turning onto Drewton Road. 

  • Improved cycling provision including upgraded cycleway connections near Infirmary Field and new cycle lane sections at Baptist Place and St Thomas’s Road. Cyclists can also use the bus lanes for safer, separated travel. 

Access changes 

  • St Thomas’s Road would be closed at its junction with Westgate and Lumb Lane, allowing for longer green-light intervals on Westgate and reducing delays for all vehicles travelling away from the city centre. 

  • Reduced width at entry to Simes Street from Westgate. Access into Simes Street travelling out of the city centre will be prohibited. This will reduce vehicle movements in this area and improve road safety.  

  • Reduced width and left turn only out of Rawson Road onto Westgate to facilitate bus lane improvements and better manage traffic flow. 

  • Car park access closure from Westgate serving the former Oastler Shopping Centre (which is earmarked for demolition and redevelopment as part of the Bradford City Village proposals) multi-storey), allowing the right-turn lane to be reallocated for buses. 


The plans below show which measures are being proposed at Westgate and where they will be located. 


If you would like information about the scheme in a different language or format such as large format print or braille, please email bus-hotspots@future-bradford.co.uk or call freephone 0808 196 8848. 

Have your say 

We want to hear your views on these proposals for Westgate. A consultation is now underway and will run from Monday 22 September and close at 11:59pm on Sunday 12 October 2025. 

Your feedback will help us refine the proposals before they are submitted for the next stage of development. 

Have your say by completing our feedback survey, linked below. You can also contact us request for a paper copy of the survey to be posted to you.  

Feedback Survey

Please see our Frequently Asked Questions section on this page for more information about the scheme. 

Come to our drop-in event 

We are holding a community drop-in event in the area, where you can meet the project team who are working on the scheme, learn more about the proposals and share your feedback and suggestions.  

  • The event will be held at Kirkgate Shopping Centre, 1-17 Darley Street, BD1 1TQ, on Saturday 4 October 2025 from 11am to 3pm. 

You don’t need to book or register, just drop in at any time during event opening hours. 

Contact us 

You can reach out to the consultation team directly to ask questions or share any further feedback you have about the scheme using the below channels: 

  • Email: bus-hotspots@future-bradford.co.uk 

  • Freephone: 0808 196 8848 

  • Freepost: Freepost BFD Highways 

Our phoneline and inbox are monitored Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, excluding bank holidays.  


Next Steps:  

Feedback received will be analysed and the proposals will be further developed into final plans based on public feedback. A report summarising the feedback received will be published on the YourVoice website. 

Once the plans have been updated, we will consult again before they are submitted to the Combined Authority in February 2026 to be considered for approval. 

If approved, the scheme would begin construction early 2026 for completion by March 2027, in line with the deadline set by the Department for Transport. 

Share your feedback on plans to reduce bus delays at Westgate in Bradford city centre and improve the reliability of services using this route. 



About the scheme 

Bradford Council, in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, is proposing improvements to several bus delay hotspots across the Bradford district to create a more reliable bus network. 

Westgate in Bradford city centre has been identified as a bus hotspot and a priority location due to frequent congestion and delays. The proposed upgrades aim to reduce bus delays, improve the reliability of bus services, and enhance overall traffic flow for all road users. 

Why is this scheme being proposed? 

Bus services in parts of the Bradford district can be unreliable, particularly on routes frequently affected by congestion. These delays disrupt journey times, making public transport less dependable, with the impact being most felt by those who rely on buses to get around. 

Over 57,000 households in Bradford don’t have access to a car to get to work, school, appointments, childcare or to meet family and friends and they need reliable bus services. For many people, unreliable bus services make buses a less attractive transport option, increasing their reliance on car usage and further contributing to air pollution and congestion.  

We want to change this. We’re proposing improvements to enhance the reliability and accessibility of bus services that travel through Westgate, including the 617, 618, 620 and 621 services while also improving traffic flow, and creating safer, more welcoming environments for pedestrians and cyclists. 

What is being proposed at Westgate? 

At Westgate, between the junctions with John Street and White Abbey Road, the following measures are proposed:  

Travelling towards the city centre 

  • New inbound camera enforced bus lane between City Road and Lumb Lane. The existing left-hand general traffic lane would be converted to a bus lane, giving buses a dedicated route to bypass congestion. The inbound bus lane would continue from Rawson Road to Providence Street, providing a priority route for buses into the city centre. 

  • Improved pedestrian safety through realigned pedestrian crossings and traffic islands, making it safer to cross busy roads and improving overall traffic flow. 

  • Removed left-turn slip road from Westgate onto Lumb Lane to support the revised layout and bus priority improvements.  

Travelling out of the city centre  

  • New outbound camera enforced bus lane introduced between Providence Street and Baptist Place, running alongside two general traffic lanes to support more reliable journeys. Where the bus lane ends, buses and general traffic continuing straight ahead would merge. Two right-turn lanes would remain for vehicles turning onto Drewton Road. 

  • Improved cycling provision including upgraded cycleway connections near Infirmary Field and new cycle lane sections at Baptist Place and St Thomas’s Road. Cyclists can also use the bus lanes for safer, separated travel. 

Access changes 

  • St Thomas’s Road would be closed at its junction with Westgate and Lumb Lane, allowing for longer green-light intervals on Westgate and reducing delays for all vehicles travelling away from the city centre. 

  • Reduced width at entry to Simes Street from Westgate. Access into Simes Street travelling out of the city centre will be prohibited. This will reduce vehicle movements in this area and improve road safety.  

  • Reduced width and left turn only out of Rawson Road onto Westgate to facilitate bus lane improvements and better manage traffic flow. 

  • Car park access closure from Westgate serving the former Oastler Shopping Centre (which is earmarked for demolition and redevelopment as part of the Bradford City Village proposals) multi-storey), allowing the right-turn lane to be reallocated for buses. 


The plans below show which measures are being proposed at Westgate and where they will be located. 


If you would like information about the scheme in a different language or format such as large format print or braille, please email bus-hotspots@future-bradford.co.uk or call freephone 0808 196 8848. 

Have your say 

We want to hear your views on these proposals for Westgate. A consultation is now underway and will run from Monday 22 September and close at 11:59pm on Sunday 12 October 2025. 

Your feedback will help us refine the proposals before they are submitted for the next stage of development. 

Have your say by completing our feedback survey, linked below. You can also contact us request for a paper copy of the survey to be posted to you.  

Feedback Survey

Please see our Frequently Asked Questions section on this page for more information about the scheme. 

Come to our drop-in event 

We are holding a community drop-in event in the area, where you can meet the project team who are working on the scheme, learn more about the proposals and share your feedback and suggestions.  

  • The event will be held at Kirkgate Shopping Centre, 1-17 Darley Street, BD1 1TQ, on Saturday 4 October 2025 from 11am to 3pm. 

You don’t need to book or register, just drop in at any time during event opening hours. 

Contact us 

You can reach out to the consultation team directly to ask questions or share any further feedback you have about the scheme using the below channels: 

  • Email: bus-hotspots@future-bradford.co.uk 

  • Freephone: 0808 196 8848 

  • Freepost: Freepost BFD Highways 

Our phoneline and inbox are monitored Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, excluding bank holidays.  


Next Steps:  

Feedback received will be analysed and the proposals will be further developed into final plans based on public feedback. A report summarising the feedback received will be published on the YourVoice website. 

Once the plans have been updated, we will consult again before they are submitted to the Combined Authority in February 2026 to be considered for approval. 

If approved, the scheme would begin construction early 2026 for completion by March 2027, in line with the deadline set by the Department for Transport. 

  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Bradford Bus Hotspots - Westgate City Centre Survey.

    Have your say on the Westgate Bus Hotspot scheme proposals 


    Bradford Council, in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, is proposing improvements to Westgate in Bradford city centre to enhance the reliability and accessibility of public transport and make the area safer and more pleasant for walking, wheeling and cycling. By ‘wheeling’ we mean scooters, wheelchairs, mobility aids and people with pushchairs. 


    Have your say on the proposals by completing this survey by 11:59pm on Sunday 12 October 2025. Your feedback will help to shape our proposals for Westgate. We recommend that you view information about the proposals before completing the survey. You can find this online here: www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/admin/projects/bradfordwestgate 


    You can also email bus-hotspots@future-bradford.co.uk with feedback or to request information in alternative languages and accessible formats such as braille.  


    This survey is being collected by Bradford Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018. The data collected will be held for the duration of the project. The information you provide will only be used in the manner described in our privacy notice which can be found here 

    This consultation has concluded, thank you to all those who took part. 

    This consultation ran between 22 September 2025 to 12 October 2025, the information below was available during that time.

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