Transpennine Route Upgrade puts Huddersfield on fast track to £1.9 billion regeneration boost

An independent report has revealed the scale of regeneration in Huddersfield sparked by the multi-billion pound Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU).

The report, commissioned by Network Rail, says that since TRU funding was confirmed in 2020, planned construction value locally has almost tripled – from £311.9 million before 2020 to £899.8 million since.

And during that time planning applications within 1.5 miles of Huddersfield Railway Station have risen by nearly 33%.

Work at Huddersfield Railway Station – which is undergoing a £70 million internal revamp – started in 2023 and is due for completion in February 2027.

The report – called ‘From Tracks to Transformation’ – also suggests that over the next 10 years, TRU’s impact on Huddersfield town centre could generate £1.9 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA), create 4,902 gross full-time equivalent jobs and deliver 1,187 new homes.

The report highlights investment including Kirklees Council’s Our Cultural Heart; the University of Huddersfield’s National Health Innovation Campus; the restoration of the George Hotel; and the re-development of the Kingsgate Centre as a leisure and entertainments destination.

Next week (Tuesday May 19), TRU will showcase these impacts at UKREiiF, the UK’s Real Estate, Infrastructure Investment Forum in Leeds.

The event will bring together investors, developers and decision-makers to drive regeneration, and provides an opportunity for TRU to outline the programme’s role not just as a railway upgrade, but as a driver for economic growth throughout the region.

James Richardson, TRU managing director, said:

“These figures highlight that rail investment isn’t just about trains and tracks.

“A long-term commitment to infrastructure in our communities draws in developers, businesses and residents to make these places their home.

“So while our teams work around the clock to deliver faster, more frequent trains across the Pennines, the benefits go well beyond the railway itself – shaping opportunities for the people these services will support for generations to come, and boosting our local economies.

“We’re proud to be working closely with our partners in business and local government to deliver a railway that will help the North reach its full potential.”

Kirklees Council chief executive Steve Mawson said:

“The Transpennine Route Upgrade will significantly improve connectivity across Kirklees and the North of England.

“It complements and strengthens wider investment in our transport infrastructure, supporting a more integrated and reliable network that improves access to jobs, services and key markets.

“It aligns with our wider regeneration ambitions, focused on revitalising town centres, making best use of existing assets and creating places where people and businesses can thrive.

“This investment is already helping to shift market perceptions across the region, reinforcing Kirklees’ position as a well-connected and attractive location for investment in manufacturing, health innovation, leisure, culture and town centre living.”