Key Points
- Plans for a new pedestrian footbridge over the A6120 Outer Ring Road have been delayed due to escalating construction costs.
- The proposed bridge at Calverley Lane is designed to connect the communities of Calverley and Farsley.
- The structure represents the final element of the overarching £23 million Connecting West Leeds highway upgrade project.
- Work on the footbridge was originally scheduled to commence earlier in 2026 following planning sign-offs.
- Local government officials have confirmed a review of the design and scope is under way to bring the project back within budget limits.
Calverley (The Leeds Times) August 18, 2026 – Ambitious infrastructure plans to construct a dedicated pedestrian footbridge over the A6120 Outer Ring Road have encountered significant delays due to rising construction costs. The structure, intended to bridge the traffic divide at Calverley Lane and link the nearby residential communities of Calverley and Farsley, forms the final outstanding phase of the broader £23 million Connecting West Leeds infrastructure initiative.
As reported by John Baron of West Leeds Dispatch, a spokesperson for Leeds City Council confirmed that the local authority remains fully committed to delivering the pedestrian link, but stated that a design review is required to address budget constraints. As reported by John Baron of West Leeds Dispatch, a Leeds City Council spokesperson stated:
“The council remains committed to delivering a new pedestrian footbridge over the A6120 at Calverley Lane, helping improve connections between Calverley and Farsley and making it easier and safer for people to walk in the area”.
The spokesperson added:
“We are reviewing the design and scope of the footbridge to identify a solution that can be delivered within the available budget, while still meeting the project’s objectives”.
The local authority confirmed that an updated implementation timeline will only be released after the architectural and scope review concludes. As reported by John Baron of West Leeds Dispatch, the council spokesperson stated:
“We will provide a further update on timescales once this work has been completed”.
What Is The Scope Of The Connecting West Leeds Scheme?
The footbridge scheme serves as the capstone element of the broader £23 million Connecting West Leeds project.
The highway improvement programme was designed to reduce peak-time congestion, improve safety, and enhance alternative travel options along the Outer Ring Road corridor between Dawson’s Corner in Pudsey and Fink Hill in Horsforth.
Major elements of the multi-million-pound scheme have already been completed along the stretch. These include the construction of new segregated footpaths and cycleways, structural upgrades at key junctions, a longer merge lane at the Horsforth roundabout, restricted right-turn manoeuvres at Calverley Bridge and Calverley Lane, and the enforcement of a reduced 50mph speed limit between Horsforth roundabout and the Stanningley Bypass.
As reported by Harry Ward of West Leeds Dispatch, Councillor Jonathan Pryor, deputy leader of Leeds City Council and executive member for economy, transport and sustainable development, previously stated:
“I hope more people will use the segregated cycle paths, that make the route much safer and more accessible for active travel”.
Regarding the footbridge element, as reported by Harry Ward of West Leeds Dispatch, Councillor Jonathan Pryor stated:
“The new accessible footbridge over the A6120 Ring Road Farsley near Calverley Lane, when constructed, will provide vital new connections between Calverley and Farsley”.
How Was The West Leeds Infrastructure Project Funded?
Funding for the £23 million Connecting West Leeds scheme relies heavily on central government support. A total of £20 million was awarded to the project from the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund, with the remaining capital balance supplied via local authority and regional funding streams.
The multi-million-pound funding allocation was initially green-lit in 2021 by then Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak.
Following central government approval, Leeds City Council launched a comprehensive public consultation exercise in November 2021 to gather feedback from residents, commuters, and local business owners across West Leeds.
As reported by John Baron of West Leeds Dispatch, preliminary progress on the footbridge phase was recorded in February 2026, when municipal planning officers formalised the approval of a construction and management plan attached to the original planning permissions.
However, macroeconomic pressures, inflationary spikes in raw materials, and rising engineering costs across the construction sector forced a pause on physical works prior to breaking ground.
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Background of the Development
The A6120 Outer Ring Road is one of the busiest arterial transport routes in West Yorkshire, carrying high volumes of commuter, freight, and regional traffic between Pudsey, Horsforth, and wider Leeds.
For decades, the corridor presented a physical barrier separating adjacent suburban communities like Calverley and Farsley, limiting safe active travel options for pedestrians, runners, and cyclists.
To address long-standing safety concerns and traffic bottlenecks, local transport authorities drew up the Connecting West Leeds master plan. The scheme sought to rebalance road usage by adding modern active travel corridors alongside vehicle lane enhancements.
Initial highway works began in late 2024 and concluded in autumn 2025, leaving the proposed footbridge near Calverley Lane as the sole remaining build component.
Originally slated for a early 2026 construction launch with a 12-month build window, the footbridge faced cost overruns typical of major infrastructure projects in recent years, prompting municipal planners to halt procurement and review structural designs to protect public finances.
Prediction: How Will This Development Affect Local Residents and Commuters?
The delay in delivering the Calverley Lane pedestrian footbridge will directly impact local residents, active travel users, and daily commuters across West Leeds:
- Pedestrians and Local Residents: Residents in Calverley and Farsley will experience a continued delay in gaining a safe, grade-separated crossing over the busy A6120. Walkers and families wishing to travel between the two villages will have to rely on existing ground-level crossing points or diversionary routes, prolonging safety concerns along a highway that handles heavy traffic volumes.
- Cyclists and Active Travel Commuters: Individuals relying on non-motorised transit will face a temporary gap in the integrated transport network. While newly built segregated cycle paths alongside the Ring Road are operational, the lack of a direct overhead connection at Calverley Lane delays the full operational benefit of a seamless active travel network across the area.
- Local Motorists: Drivers along the Outer Ring Road may avoid short-term lane closures and construction-related traffic management measures while the build remains on hold. However, once a revised, budget-compliant design is approved, subsequent construction works could lead to temporary off-peak travel disruptions between Dawsons Corner and Horsforth.
- Taxpayers and Local Authorities: For Leeds City Council and local taxpayers, the design review offers a mechanism to prevent capital overspends. However, prolonged delays risk exposing the project to ongoing inflationary pressures in the structural engineering sector, potentially requiring alterations to the footbridge’s materials or aesthetic design to keep it within the fixed £23 million budget framework.
