Rail services between Huddersfield and Leeds to be impacted during May & June as part of major upgrade works
Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) rail engineering work will be undertaken throughout May and June, with significant disruption expected between Huddersfield and Leeds. In addition, trains will not call at Huddersfield on weekends in April. These closures will enable the safe delivery of critical infrastructure upgrades, including track and drainage renewals, bridge works, signalling improvements, and…
New Leeds Beckett University partnership to simplify solar energy adoption for businesses
Electronic engineering and computer science experts at Leeds Beckett University (LBU) are partnering with Huddersfield-based Zenergy Solar on a research-led project designed to make large-scale solar energy systems easier to install, monitor and manage – particularly for organisations operating across multiple sites. The collaboration brings together LBU’s expertise in computing, data systems and applied research…
Health Trainers take the lead in launching new Healthy Families sessions
City of York Council’s Health Trainer service is excited to launch the brand‑new Healthy Families Service – a warm, welcoming and completely free way for families in York to boost their physical and emotional wellbeing. Led by the friendly faces of Katie and Donna, the Healthy Families Service is all about supporting your whole family,…
New ‘click before you tip’ booking system introduced at Hazel Court HWRC
City of York Council will introduce a pre‑booked timeslot system at Hazel Court Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) from Monday 2 March, to help reduce congestion, improve safety and provide a better experience for residents and site users. Under the new ‘Click Before You Tip’ approach, all visitors – including residents, registered traders, charities and…
Public invited to share views on proposed major rail upgrades between Standedge and Gledholt (Huddersfield)
Communities in and around Huddersfield are being invited to have their say on the next phase of the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU), as plans are unveiled for significant improvements between Standedge and Gledholt. The proposals form part of the multi-billion-pound programme to modernise the railway between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York, delivering faster, more frequent…
City of York Council approves challenging council budget to maintain services in 2026/27
Amid an ongoing and challenging financial outlook for councils across the country, City of York Council has approved a council tax increase of 4.99% for 2026/27 [Thursday 12 February]. The uplift will cover the increased cost of delivering services due to inflation. Whilst the annual budget setting process has been extremely challenging for the city,…
Progress continues on project to transform area near York Station
Work to improve the area to the front of York Station is progressing and there are some further changes to be aware of in the coming weeks. These changes will see significant improvements made to the pavements and public spaces, including the installation of York’s first pedestrian crossing with a countdown timer, and will require…
York free school meal pilots extended to ten additional primary schools
Over 170,000 free breakfasts will be available to primary school children in York over the next three years thanks to a major expansion of the city’s free school meals initiative. Funded by the York Hungry Minds campaign, free school breakfast pilots will be rolled out to invited children at the following schools from the summer…
Businesses in Yorkshire with payroll should prepare for April 6 – R-Day
From then, businesses must keep accurate records of holiday entitlement, holiday pay calculations and annual leave processed through payroll for six years. It’s being called R-Day – and every business with payroll systems in Yorkshire could face criminal prosecution if they fail to abide with strict new compliance rules. From April 6, dubbed Records-Day, they…
City of York Council join York City to raise awareness of Fostering
City of York Council’s Fostering Team will be at the LNER Community Stadium on Saturday 7 February ahead of the York City V Forest Green Rovers match to raise awareness about fostering in York. Football fans attending the match are encouraged to chat with the council’s fostering team before kick-off, where staff will be on…
An update on Lendal Bridge works
Works to repair Lendal Bridge, originally scheduled for spring of this year, have now been delayed to 2027 due to unavoidable delays on the Station Gateway project. Together, these two major projects will bring long-term benefits for everyone who lives, works and travels in the city. However, because they each have significant impacts on the…
York celebrates National Apprenticeship Week
City of York Council is celebrating the value, benefits and opportunities apprenticeships bring to individuals, businesses and the wider economy during National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) next week (9-15 February). NAW shines a light on how apprenticeships are a great option for people to consider when they are looking to start or change careers. With apprenticeships…
Breast cancer research boost thanks to Wellcome award
Dr Francis Mprah Barnieh, an early-career researcher at the University of Bradford, has been awarded £236,455 under the competitive Wellcome Accelerator Award scheme to advance the development of safer, more targeted treatments for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). TNBC is one of the most aggressive and difficult-to-treat forms of breast cancer. It disproportionately affects black women and is associated with poorer clinical…
Charities and social enterprise groups offered funding and academic expertise to support community projects in Yorkshire and the Humber
Community Research Grants 2026 offer expanded opportunities from York St John University research institutes Now into its fifth year, York St John University’s impactful Community Research Grant (CRG) programme is now open for 2026. Led by the University’s Institute for Social Justice, the programme invites Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprises (VCSEs) to propose issues that…
Mirfield station transformation for faster, more connected travel across the North
Customers in Mirfield will now benefit from a transformed station which includes new step-free access, longer platforms and improved facilities, marking the latest milestone in the £11 billion Transpennine Route Upgrade. This work will also enable longer trains with more seats to stop at the station and faster, more reliable journeys in the future, delivering…
New independent report highlights the huge potential of York’s ambitious plan for growth
An ambitious strategy outlining plans for growth, with innovation, culture and heritage at its heart –could bring about £12.1bn of combined social, economic and environmental impact to the city, according to independent analysis. In November 2025, Executive members approved York’s prospectus which is designed to attract additional investment into economic and housing growth, tackle inequalities,…
Two fly‑tippers fined over £2,000 as council enforces ‘Crime – Not to Care’
Two residents found to have illegally dumped waste, have been prosecuted by City of York Council. On Thursday 22 January, York Magistrates Court ordered them to pay a total £2,190 in fines, costs, and surcharges, as the council continues to deliver its ‘Crime – Not to Care’ campaign and protect neighbourhoods from environmental harm. Jake…
Bridging the gap in Ravensthorpe
Significant progress is being made in the delivery of upgrades by the Transpennine Route Upgrade team in Ravensthorpe, West Yorkshire following the closure of the station in December, with work on the new Calder Road bridge and Baker Viaduct well underway. TRU will build a new, modernised Ravensthorpe station 200m west of the current site,…
York residents urged to maximise their income as part of York Talk Money fortnight
York residents are being urged to find out whether they could be eligible for extra income as part of next week’s York Talk Money fortnight (2-15 February). 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…
Carbon Neutral Group lists sector net zero readiness in Hospitality, FMCG, Manufacturing, Logistics and Retail
Carbon Neutral Group, who work with organisations to build actionable net zero roadmaps, grounded in robust carbon accounting and operational change, has reviewed industry sectors and their road in sustainability, specifically those who are leading the way to becoming net zero, by examining their decarbonisation progress across five major industries. When it comes down to…
Council’s pledge to tackle tenants’ priorities unlocks new improvements
New approaches to tackling what tenants have told us are their priorities have been agreed today (Tuesday 27 January), which unlocks funding. The Council’s housing tenants have told us that tackling anti-social behaviour, preventing damp and mould, and improving communal areas are among their top priorities. To support them and improve the way we address…
Exciting plans for Glen Gardens play area
Children from Tang Hall Primary School and Heworth Primary School have played a key role in shaping the future of Glen Gardens. As part of City of York Council’s major investment in parks and green spaces, pupils were invited to review three different design options for the play area. Their feedback has helped determine the…
Cold Hands Syndrome (aka Raynaud’s Disease) – call for more awareness
Raynaud’s – More Than Just Cold Hands For a condition that affects millions, Raynaud’s barely gets any attention. It doesn’t trend, it doesn’t make headlines, and yet it shapes the daily lives of so many of us, including me. It’s often described as “cold hands” or “poor circulation”, but that barely captures what it’s like to manage it day to day. Raynaud’s causes the small blood vessels in the fingers and…
TRU wraps up a month of major upgrades transforming train travel
Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) teams have completed over 32 days of major upgrades between Leeds and York, helping deliver faster, greener, more frequent services across the North. The work delivered by an army of hundreds of people includes 70 new signals installed and made operational, 3km of track renewed, along with eleven switches and crossings….
University of Bradford shines in THE subject rankings
The University of Bradford has achieved strong results in the newly released Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings by Subject 2025, underlining the institution’s growing reputation in key academic areas that also align with its broader success across recent league tables. Standout subject performances The latest subject-level data from THE shows Bradford performing particularly well…
Unfair trading results in 10 month’s prison sentence
Following customers’ complaints and a Trading Standards’ investigation, York Crown Court has sentenced a man to 10 month’s imprisonment for unfair trading offences. Liam Wilkinson, aged 25 of Eastbourne Road, Darlington paid a total £8,095 compensation for his victims, ahead of appearing in court on 30 October 2025 when he pleaded guilty to two offences….
Have your say in the York Parents’ Survey
Parents and carers in York are being invited to have their say in a citywide survey over the next few weeks. Organised by Raise York – the local network of people, places and online support which helps children, young people and families from pregnancy to adulthood –it’s hoped that feedback from the survey will shape…
Bradford company listed among top 17 most promising biotech start-ups
A University of Bradford‑supported biotech start‑up has been named among the top 17 companies nationally to be selected for a flagship Innovate UK– funded programme supporting the future of medicines. Hado Therapeutics, part of the University’s Enterprise Fellowship Programme, has secured a place on the LYVA Labs Future Medicines Accelerator, part of the Innovate UK Biomedical Catalyst Accelerator programme. The programme is designed to fast‑track the UK’s most promising biotech ventures. Dr Harsha Kantamneni, CEO and…
Leeds Beckett University partners with Bradford business to drive research-led innovation in the UK steel industry
Leeds Beckett University (LBU) is partnering with Bradford-based Dent Steel Services Limited on a new research-led project designed to strengthen innovation, efficiency and long-term sustainable growth within Dent Steel and the UK steel sector. The collaboration brings together academic expertise from across LBU in supply chain management, leadership and computing systems. Working closely with Dent…
Council plans for the future amid toughest financial outlook since launch of austerity
Rising inflation, decades of underfunding, and growing demand for services have created major financial strains for local authorities across the country – including City of York Council. To address these pressures, the Council has published its budget proposals for 2026/27. York’s ageing population, with increasingly complex health needs, are increasing demand for social care. Significant…
91% of University of Bradford graduates in work or study – par for the course, says incoming VC
The fact University of Bradford notched up one of its best ever results on the most recent Graduate Outcomes survey did not come as a surprise for its new interim vice-chancellor, Professor Nick Braisby. According to the latest Higher Education Statistics Agency report, 91% of University of Bradford graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduating (80% in work and…
Car parking charge consultation extended and expanded
A review of car parking charges in Bishopthorpe Road, Micklegate and The Groves has been expanded to include Heworth. It follows receipt of a challenge from local traders and residents in the East Parade area about last year’s price increase. The entire consultation including all four areas will now run until 27 February 2026. Arup – a global firm of designers, engineers, and consultants, who…
2026 Garden Waste Subscription Scheme open
Households eligible to subscribe to the 2026 Garden Waste Subscription Scheme can now sign up ahead of the new season in March. The easiest way to sign up for the scheme is to complete an online form at www.york.gov.uk/GardenWaste Support is available for anyone who is not able to apply this way by calling 01904…
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…