West Yorkshire considers compulsory purchase powers to secure bus franchising depots
The Combined Authority will debate the use of CPOs to acquire land and property needed for its transport programme after negotiations with landowners failed to secure all the required sites.
A report due to be considered by the Combined Authority on Thursday recommends progressing a Compulsory Purchase Order to secure strategically located depot sites and associated operational infrastructure needed to support the transition to a franchised bus network.
The authority said negotiations to acquire the sites by agreement had made “significant progress”, but voluntary deals had not been reached in all cases within the programme timetable.
While negotiations will continue, the report concludes that compulsory purchase is now considered “necessary and proportionate” to reduce the risk of delays.
Under the proposals, the Combined Authority would approve the CPO and associated statutory documents before submitting the order to the Secretary of State. Officers would also be authorised to progress negotiations, consultations, and, if required, a public inquiry.
The depot strategy forms a key part of West Yorkshire’s bus franchising programme, with the Combined Authority seeking to acquire strategically located depots in each operating zone to ensure both existing operators and new market entrants can compete for franchise contracts.
According to the report, access to depot infrastructure is essential to creating a competitive franchising market, as depots represent fixed assets that can otherwise limit operators’ ability to bid for contracts.
The report warns that failure to secure the required land would create a “material risk” to the delivery of the franchising programme and could compromise the intended rollout of the new network.
It also acknowledges that the statutory CPO process could affect the programme timetable. Where compulsory purchase is required, the affected franchising contracts are now expected to go live no earlier than October 2028 to allow time for the legal process, including any objections or public inquiry.
If approved, the costs of progressing the CPO process during 2026/27 would be funded from the Combined Authority’s existing revenue budget, with negotiations with landowners continuing alongside the statutory process wherever possible.
