Transpennine Route Upgrade lays the foundations for a better-connected North as NPR funding is confirmed
Today on a visit to Neville Hill Depot in Leeds the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, backed Northern Powerhouse Rail with £1.1bn over the Spending Review period, allowing progress on planning, development, and design work to be made which will unlock benefits for the people of the North from the 2030s. This reinforced the importance of continued investment in rail infrastructure across the…
Team TRU delivers package of festive railway upgrades
Across the Christmas and New Year period, Team TRU worked around the clock to complete major improvements that will help deliver faster, greener and more frequent services with more seats across the Pennines. During this time, engineers made significant progress at key locations including Mirfield, Deighton and Huddersfield, while a closure of the line between…
Transpennine Route Upgrade look back on 2025 as progress continues at pace
As the year draws to a close, the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) is marking another 12-months of strong progress, with major achievements delivered across the route, bringing customers closer to more frequent, faster and greener rail journeys between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York. Across the 70 miles, significant headway has been made with the roll-out…
TRU sets new benchmark for sustainable delivery as electrification, skills investment and community impact accelerates
The Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) has released its 2025 Sustainable Development Report, demonstrating a year of significant progress towards delivering a faster, greener, more reliable railway across the North, and leaving a long-lasting legacy in the communities it works in. Guided by its sustainability strategy, Our Guiding Compass, the programme has embedded long-term thinking into every aspect…
Car parking charges right to challenge consultation
An independent review of car parking charges has begun (today, Wednesday 17 December 2025) covering Bishopthorpe Road, Micklegate, and The Groves in York. Traders and residents in these areas have initiated a challenge to parking charges through The Right to Challenge Parking Policies Statutory Guidance under the Traffic Management Act 2004. This follows the authority’s decision to increase charges…
New adult skills funding set to boost careers in construction
An award of nearly half a million pounds from the Department for Education is helping Bradford College to support more young adults into the construction sector. Over £994k in Adult Skills Fund money was made available to regional colleges via the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) to deliver comprehensive construction skills, with Bradford College securing nearly…
Candidates announced for Heworth Ward by-election
The list of candidates standing for the Heworth by-election has been published at https://www.york.gov.uk/HeworthWardByElection. The election will take place on Thursday 15 January 2026 with polling hours between 7am and 10pm, and with the count taking place at the close of poll at The Centre @ Burnholme. Residents who are not currently registered to vote are encouraged…
Upgrade work in Deighton continues over Christmas period
From 22:15 on Wednesday 24 December until 05:30 on Sunday 27 December, the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) team will undertake major engineering work in Deighton whilst trains aren’t running on the network. Whitacre Street overbridge will be demolished, whilst the A62 Leeds Road bridge will see the installation of pre-cast concrete parapets using a crane….
Bradford Buy-to-Let 2025: Performance, Forecasts and Why Investors Are Paying Attention
Yorkshire continues to establish itself as one of the strongest-performing property regions in the UK. The latest analysis from our regional insights report shows that several Yorkshire districts have significantly outperformed national averages, and the most recent Savills Residential Forecast places Yorkshire and the Humber as the number one region in the UK for projected…
Ravensthorpe station closure: brand-new station to open in 2028
From Sunday 14 December, Ravensthorpe station will close until summer 2028 to facilitate Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) work on a new, modernised station 200m west of the current location. The new Ravensthorpe station will have a footbridge with lifts for step-free access, along with a new forecourt and drop-off facilities. A new, longer island platform…
Lord-Lieutenant of West Yorkshire handed University honour
Ed Anderson CBE says he feels “extremely honoured” to receive his award from the University of Bradford, describing it as a special moment in a relationship that began more than half a century ago. The former CEO of Leeds & Bradford Airport and lifelong Bruce Springsteen fan – he’s been to see ‘the Boss’ 17…
Graduates leave legacy with women in STEM network
A pair of students behind a support network group for women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) have left a lasting legacy after graduating from the University of Bradford. Alex Troup and Maleeha Abbass, the Creator and President of the University’s STEMinism Society, which exists to promote STEM subjects, particularly to women and girls, driving…
York firm builds skills for the future thanks to support from City of York Council
A York conservation firm training up the next generation of expert craftspeople has thanked City of York Council for the business support that has helped it thrive. Pinnacle Conservation, established by managing director Adam Hickey in 2019, now employs 58 staff, including nine apprentices, who are all paid the Real Living Wage as part of…
Chief executive celebrated for transforming health services
The Chief Executive of Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust has been recognised for her leadership and dedication to public service by the University of Bradford. Therese Patten, who has held the post since September 2020, has more than 17 years of board-level experience in the National Health Service. She has received an Outstanding Contribution…
Poverty Proofing© the School Day pilot for York pupils
Partners across the city are working to reduce the barriers faced by York pupils from low-income families in school, with a pilot scheme this autumn. Poverty Proofing© the School Day involves making changes to school policies and practices to reduce the barriers faced by pupils, including addressing issues like financial constraints, stigma, and lack of access…
Council thanks businesses and residents for their support for local young people leaving care
City of York Council is thanking businesses and residents across the city who have already contributed Christmas gifts for children in need and young care leavers in York. The festive season can be a difficult one for many children and young people, particularly those who have had a challenging start in life and who live…
York reaffirms its commitment to improving adult social care
City of York Council has reaffirmed its commitment to delivering the best possible adult social care services following its first ever assessment by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The CQC assessed how York delivers its responsibilities under The Care Act (2014) in June 2025. It looked at nine areas of adult social care to see…
Moon signal man honoured by university
Born in Bradford in 1933, Michael John Dinn’s career helped shape one of the most iconic moments in human history – Neil Armstrong’s first steps on the Moon. Now at 92 (he will turn 93 in April), he has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Engineering from the University of Bradford in recognition of his distinguished contributions to deep space tracking and exploration. After…
Bladder cancer may be caused by the body’s response to a common virus, new research suggests
Bladder cancer might be caused by our cell’s response to a common virus which infects nearly everyone in childhood, according to new research led by scientists at the University of York. BK virus establishes a persistent and lifelong infection by hiding in the body, most commonly in the kidney. The dormant infection can reactivate during…
Boost your team’s skills with funded bootcamps
The Heart of Yorkshire Education Group is offering two practical Skills Bootcamps designed to help employers upskill their workforce and strengthen organisational capability. Both programmes are delivered face-to-face at Wakefield College, City Centre Campus, and run over 12 weeks. Skills Bootcamp in Digital Skills (IT Office Skills) Start Date: Friday, 9 January 2026 Schedule: Fridays, 9am–3pm This hands-on programme equips…
£1.2m project to uncover Industrial Revolution’s impact on health
A ground-breaking £1.2 million international research project led by the University of Bradford will investigate how the Industrial Revolution affected human health across Britain and the USA. ‘Dead and Buried: Investigating changes in health during the Industrial Revolution using documentary records and human skeletal remains’, a three-year project between Bradford and SUNY Plattsburgh, the state university…
Council proposes update to Garden Waste Subscription Scheme for 2026
City of York Council is set to consider an update to its garden waste subscription service at the Executive meeting on 2 December 2025. The proposal includes an increase in the annual subscription fee from £49 to £52 for the 2026 season, in line with North Yorkshire Council and to help cover rising service costs. The garden…
Budget 2025: Housing Association CEO backs two-child benefit cap removal but concerned over cost of living
The chief executive of Bradford-based Manningham Housing Association has welcomed the Chancellor’s decision to abolish the two-child benefit cap in today’s Budget. In a statement, Lee Bloomfield said: “As a housing association which places a special emphasis on providing high quality affordable properties for larger families, the removal of the two-child benefit cap is positive…
York set to boost NHS Health Checks for better health
City of York Council has announced plans to recommission its NHS Health Checks programme, reaffirming its commitment to improving health and wellbeing and reducing health inequalities across the city. The NHS Health Check is a free, nationally recognised programme designed to identify early signs of cardiovascular and metabolic conditions among residents aged 40–74 who do…
Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) – Information for Employers – Please give your views (2 minute survey)
What is Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE)? In a nutshell, and in the context of providing employers with higher skills training packages for employees, LLE consists of Higher Education modules from high value technical courses delivered as standalone training opportunities for employees or individuals. Scheduled to start in 2027, LLE training packages will be fully funded…
Where to invest in Leeds: the city’s best buy-to-let areas for 2025
Leeds as a Buy-to-Let Market Leeds continues to rank among the most dynamic property markets in the North of England, combining affordability, consistent rental demand and strong employment growth. The city attracts a wide tenant base of students, professionals, and families, making it one of the UK’s most resilient regional markets. Over the past five…
Major improvements this Christmas at Mirfield station
Customers travelling over the Christmas period are being encouraged to plan ahead as significant upgrades continue across West Yorkshire to bring faster, more reliable and greener journeys. To allow these improvements to be completed, Mirfield station will be closed from Tuesday 23 December, reopening on Saturday 27 December. When it reopens, customers will benefit from…
Postmasters warned time is running out for compensation claims
Despite widespread publicity and a number of recent high-profile settlements in the Post Office Horizon scandal, a leading lawyer is urging postmasters who have yet to lodge or appeal a claim to take action, as the deadlines rapidly approach. Sir Alan Bates, who led the campaign for justice, and the oldest victim, Betty Brown, have…
Consultation launches on Rougier Route – a better way through York
Proposals to install a new bus priority route through central York have been unveiled today with a focus on making bus journeys more reliable, cutting bus journey times and creating a more people-focused environment in the heart of the city. Residents, businesses, visitors and commuters are encouraged to share their views in an eight-week consultation…
York schools share best practice at Inclusion and Belonging Conference
School and education leaders in York shared best practice at a citywide conference last month to help children and young people feel included and supported at school. Over 100 representatives from each school and multi-academy trust in York attended the Inclusion and Belonging: Building a School System that works for all conference to hear from local and…
Votes at 16: Yorkshire academics and youth workers highlight urgent need for political conversations with young people
York St John University to host webinar to examine the role of youth work in preparing for the extension of voting rights to 16 and 17 year olds across the UK. “Young people are politically socialising themselves via social media – they need other voices in the mix” As today’s current Year 7s (12 and…
Keighley’s new engineering and manufacturing hub is officially opened
Keighley College’s cutting-edge Technical Engineering Centre (TEC) has been officially opened by a stalwart of the local manufacturing industry. Ninety year old Michael Parkinson OBE from Airedale Springs – whose links to the college span more than half a century – joined employers, apprentices and alumni for the event on Wednesday 12 November. The multi-million…
YorEnergy retrofit event to help York and North Yorkshire residents cut bills and make homes warmer
Residents across York and North Yorkshire are invited to discover how to make their homes warmer, greener, and cheaper to run at the YorEnergy Retrofit Futures event on Tuesday 25 November 2025 at York Guildhall. The event also marks the public launch of YorEnergy, a new end-to-end home retrofit service developed through the Retrofit One…
York has cut city-wide emissions by 16% in just two years
City of York Council has confirmed there’s been a 16 per cent reduction in city-wide carbon emissions since 2021, as the council acts to improve health and cut costs, whilst marking significant progress towards the city’s ambition to reach net zero by 2030. The figures, published in the latest City-Wide Emissions Report, show emissions fell from…
New guide for Armed Forces personnel published
In the week of Remembrance Day, a new guide to services for Armed Forces personnel in York and North Yorkshire has been published. The guide has been developed by North Yorkshire and City of York Councils for all veterans, serving members and reservists across our region. A central part of the Armed Forces Covenant agreement…
Project update: Roof conservation project on track – stonemasons add their own message to York’s Historic Walls
Work on York’s historic City Walls continues to progress smoothly as part of the Bootham Bar conservation project. City of York Council’s Ancient Monuments team and in-house stonemasons are carrying out essential works to replace the roof, which is now almost complete. The project remains on schedule to finish by mid-December, as originally planned. The…
York Walls in Bloom: Celebrating the changing seasons
As part of the York Walls in Bloom initiative, the vibrant wildflowers across the city’s historic walls are carefully managed to reflect the natural rhythm of the seasons. Now the summer blooms are starting to fade, City of York Council and dedicated volunteers, led by St Nicks, are coming together to care for these unique spaces….
Consul General of China welcomed by York partners
Ahead of the tenth anniversary of the sister city relationship between Nanjing in China and York, City of York Council has welcomed a visit by the Consul General of China in Manchester. The relationship was forged in 2016 with a view to developing a mutual understanding and benefits to these two historic and prominent cities….
York celebrates its amazing care leavers as part of National Care Leavers’ Month
City of York Council is celebrating the positive impact young people leaving care have on communities across the city during National Care Leavers’ Month (November). The month-long event aims to raise awareness and celebrate care leavers, with this year’s theme being “Rising as Me: Overcoming challenges, transforming, and finding your identity”. Around 30 young people…
Leeds College of Building to expand North Street Campus with major site acquisition
Leeds College of Building (LCB) has announced the purchase of a large building adjacent to its North Street Campus — a move that will significantly expand facilities and open up new training opportunities. The 5,000 m2 former Vodafone site on Melbourne Street sits next to LCB’s North Street Campus and will effectively increase the size of…
York’s smoking rates drop to one of the lowest in England
York continues to lead the way in public health, with adult smoking rates now at just 6.7 per cent — the 8th lowest in the country, according to the latest data from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities. York’s Health Trainer Service has played a key role by offering free, personalised support to help residents quit smoking and improve…
Leeds Beckett University leads research-powered partnership to boost health innovation across West Yorkshire
Leeds Beckett University is spearheading a major new collaboration with universities across West Yorkshire to fast-track innovation in health technologies – supporting businesses to bring new ideas to market and improving health outcomes in the region. The Innovation Pathways (In-Path) programme – led by Leeds Beckett in partnership with the Universities of Huddersfield, Leeds and Bradford – is backed…
York’s Remembrance Sunday parade and service
The Rt Hon Lord Mayor of York, Councillor Martin Rowley BEM, the Civic Party and City of York Council will pay their respects at York’s official Remembrance Sunday service and parade. On Sunday 9 November, the parade will leave Clifford’s Tower at 10.20am and make its way to the City War Memorial via the Mansion House. The…
York Talk Money fortnight
York residents can access a wealth of information and support that could save them £1000s as part of this autumn’s York Talk Money fortnight (3-16 November). Run by City of York Council and partners across the city, including Citizens Advice, Peasholme Charity, Age UK, York Energy Advice and OCAY, the regular event aims to help…
Dog owner gets £1,000 charge and three-year Criminal Behaviour Order
The owner of an uncontrolled, un-microchipped and aggressive dog has been sentenced by York Magistrates Court. Following a number of incidents of a nine-year-old grey Staffordshire bull terrier called Lola attacking other dogs and straying, its owner Andrew Bartle (aged 53 of Foxwood Lane, York) has now been ordered to pay £1,098 and has been…
‘Tackling poverty today and turning the tide to create lasting change in York
A landmark anti-poverty strategy for York council will be reviewed by City of York Council’s Executive next month [4 November], before being considered for approval by Full Council [6 November]. The strategy – entitled ‘Tackling Poverty Today and Turning the Tide to Create Lasting Change’ – sets out to create a ten-year strategy and action plan to…
Going for growth- an ambitious new plan for York is announced
An ambitious new prospectus laying out York’s plans for growth, with innovation, culture and heritage at the heart of it, aims to attract billions in private and public sector investment to deliver more affordable housing and more better paid jobs will be taken to a public meeting for approval next week (4 November). York’s prospectus…
Ravensthorpe station to be closed as new station is constructed
From Sunday 14 December until summer 2028, Ravensthorpe station will close as the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) build a new, modernised station 200m west of the current site. Rail replacement bus services between Ravensthorpe and Dewsbury stations will be in operation throughout the closure to keep customers on the move. The newly-built Ravensthorpe station will…