Bus Service Permit Regime Consultation

The Combined Authority is consulting on our proposed Bus Service Permit Regime, an important part of the bus franchising process. The consultation is open from Thursday 8 January 2026 to 23:59pm on Sunday 8 February 2026. We want to know your views on the regime.

What is a bus service permit regime?

The majority of bus services will be operated as part of a franchised network, however there will be some exceptions. The Service permit regime will allow bus services that are not part of the franchised network to operate in West Yorkshire.

Once the first round of bus franchising goes live in April 2027, any current or proposed local bus services that are not part of the franchised network (or are otherwise exempted) will require a service permit if they are to operate in West Yorkshire.

Examples of where service permits would be required include:

• Cross–boundary services (those that travel outside West Yorkshire)
• Special event services
• Tourist services
• New West Yorkshire commercial services (non-franchised)
• New West Yorkshire tendered services (non-franchised)
• AccessBus
• Works services
• Open services that are outside the franchise scheme
• Locally registered coaches with two stops within West Yorkshire

The service permit regime is made up of the two documents:

1. The service permit policy which sets out the proposed application process for operators
2. The service permit conditions which is a list of standards the Combined Authority could attach to a service permit once it’s been granted.

A Service Permit Regime is a vital part of the franchised network as it provides the means for non-franchised services to operate within the region.

It helps prevent services from taking passengers and revenue away from routes under public control, while still allowing other services that benefit the travelling public to continue or be introduced.

Have your say

We are required to consult bus operators, neighbouring Local Transport Authorities, and West Yorkshire Local Authorities on the upcoming service permit regime to ensure that we are creating a system that:

• Does not put any excessive barriers in the way of bus operators running a service if it would benefit passengers and would not have a negative impact on services which are in the franchised network
• Is able to work together with our neighbouring Local Transport Authorities and meet their statutory obligations or own franchised network standards.

Alongside the stakeholders we are required to consult we also welcome consultation responses from members of the public.

You can read more about the service permit regime:

• Consultation summary document(we recommend reading this document before filling in your questionnaire response) – this includes a summary of our consultation on the draft service permit regime including:
  1. Why the service permit regime is required
  2. What is covered under the service permit regime
  3. The process of applying for a permit (including the fee)
  4. The conditions that could be applied to a service under the service permit regime
• Proposed service permit policy
• Proposed service permit conditions
• Proposed application form
• FAQs on the service permit regime

Please have your say by filling in our questionnaire.

If you have any questions, need to respond in a different way, or require consultation materials in another format, you contact us by:

• Email: yourvoice@westyorks-ca.gov.uk
• Telephone: 0113 245 7676 (MetroLine) charged at the standard operator’s rate
• Post: Freepost WEST YORKSHIRE COMBINED AUTHORITY (no stamp needed)
• Use the Q&A tool on Your Voice: Submit your question here and we will get back to you within seven working days.

Next steps

After the consultation closes, we will analyse your feedback and prepare an outcome report, which will be published on this page when it is ready. Your feedback will help us to finalise the draft service permit regime, which we will take to a meeting of the Combined Authority on Thursday 12 March 2026. The service permit regime will come into effect from Sunday 4 April 2027 as the first round of franchising launches.