QUEENSBURY Tunnel could soon form part of a new ‘greenway’ transport link connecting Halifax and Bradford, after the Department for Transport announced funding for a business case on its redevelopment.

The news was welcomed by Bradford Council and campaigners to preserve the landmark piece of Victorian engineering.

West Yorkshire Combined Authority will use £500,000 of the £1m pledged to develop options for how the tunnel could be part of a new green transport link between Bradford and Halifax in a bid to boost connectivity while delivering economic and leisure benefits.

The DfT says the funding is the latest example of Northern Powerhouse Minister Grant Shapps’ commitment to the Government’s twin aims of levelling up connections for areas of the country, particularly the North, who have felt left behind in recent decades, while also getting more people walking and cycling.

Mr Shapps said: “The Queensbury Tunnel is part of our great railway heritage. Opened in 1878, it was closed in 1956 and has fallen into disrepair. So much so that last year the Victorian Society declared it one of its top ten most endangered structures.

"What a shame it would be to see it consigned to history when it could be reborn as part of a green transport route linking Bradford with Halifax, helping to improve connectivity in an environmentally friendly way while being a source of pleasure for generations of cyclists and walkers to come.

“Reviving transport infrastructure in the North is not just about flagship projects like HS2. It’s also about making improvements on a local scale that make a real difference to people’s lives. That’s why I’m so happy to confirm this funding which will enable us to see just how the Queensbury Tunnel - an iconic element of the region’s landscape - could be redeveloped as a green transport link.”

Highways England will receive the remaining £500,000 of the funding to look further at the engineering requirements and costs associated with making sure the tunnel is safe for any future construction.

The announcement follows the department’s recent £2 billion pledge to boost active travel and get more people walking and cycling for shorter and more everyday journeys, such as to the shops or work.

Norah McWilliam, leader of the Queensbury Tunnel Society, said: “We’re obviously delighted that the Minister has once again recognised the considerable potential of Queensbury Tunnel as part of an active travel link between Bradford and Calderdale, and committed funding to demonstrate the viability of delivering it.

“It’s another important step towards a positive outcome for this historic piece of the region’s industrial heritage.

“The appetite for walking and cycling has been clearly shown by the thousands of people who’ve taken it up during lockdown. We have to build on that foundation by encouraging others to follow in their footsteps and tyre tracks. But that’s only going to happen if we provide safe, segregated, high-quality infrastructure for them to use.

“It’s time to move away from our engrained carbon-centric culture. Active travel must become the default choice for short journeys and we have to invest to make that happen.

“Queensbury Tunnel is a valuable future transport asset, not a relic of our past. It’s great to see the Government waking up to that reality.”

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said: “I’m pleased that the Secretary of State has extended this lifeline for Queensbury Tunnel. We look forward to a more detailed conversation with government about how far this £1m will stretch to maintain the tunnel and do further feasibility work.

“It’s a testament to the hard work of so many volunteers and members of the public to raise awareness of this once in a generation opportunity so it’s important we seize it with both hands.

“All we’ve ever wanted has been a good partnership with Government to be able to save the tunnel. £1 million isn’t a significant amount of money when you consider that the current price tag for saving the tunnel is £27 million.

“When the £1 million is spent and the business case complete, the Government still need to be prepared to find significant funding to pay for works to save this historic national asset. Nevertheless the news today is welcome and gives us hope that Government may be interested in working with us to deliver a financially sustainable future for the tunnel.”

Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, Chair of West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Leader of Bradford Council, said: “Reopening the Queensbury Tunnel would provide a much-needed commuter link between Bradford and Halifax, two of West Yorkshire’s major urban centres with a combined population of over 700,000 people and a combined economy of over £14bn so we welcome the government’s commitment to develop this project further.

“However, we urge the government to fund this work to completion, not just the business case. We want Government to work closely in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Bradford Council to find a fast solution to adequately fund this important cycleway before it is lost.

“The Queensbury Tunnel is part of our wider ambition to increase the number of trips people in our region make by bike by 300% by 2027. This will not only boost people’s health and save them money, it will also help us to achieve our aim of being a net zero carbon economy.”