We're improving the Spen Valley Greenway to make it accessible for everyone. By improving the surface, access points, and lighting the way, the greenway can be used by more people and for more hours of the day. Increased numbers on the greenway means less people on the road and creates a better environment and more sustainable society for everyone. Read on to find out what we've been up to.
Cyclists on the newly improved Spen Valley Greenway in West Yorkshire. Credit: Chris Foster/Sustrans
What is the Spen Valley Greenway?
The Spen Valley Greenway is a 7-mile-long traffic-free route between Ravensthorpe in Dewsbury and Low Moor railway station in Bradford.
This attractive green corridor is host to an artwork trail and is home to an abundance of wildlife.
It passes through several towns including Cleckheaton, Liversedge, and Heckmondwike.
It is used by the local community and visitors alike for walking, wheeling, cycling, and horse riding.
Why are we working to improve this route
The Spen Valley Greenway opened in 2000. Since then, sections of the surface have been damaged by tree roots.
Narrow barriers at some of the access points prevent people with mobility vehicles, adapted bikes, and pushchairs from being able to access the greenway.
The greenway can be very busy, particularly where it passes by larger towns. In places, the path is too narrow to allow people to be able to pass each other comfortably and safely.
It's currently unlit which means many people avoid using the route in the evening.
Recent improvements to an access point on the Spen Valley Greenway. Credit: Chris Foster/Sustrans
What we've done so far
Sustrans has made surface and access improvements to a section of the greenway between Oakenshaw and Cleckheaton. There's still more we want to do to improve this well-loved, busy, urban greenway.
2025
In 2025, we will resurface and widen a 2 km section of the greenway between Tofts Road (Tesco) in Cleckheaton and Knowler Hill tunnel (near the Sunflower Pot café).
We'll also install lighting on this section so it can be used to access Cleckheaton town centre after dark. Access improvements will also be made.
These improvements are being made with Kirklees Council, with funding from West Yorkshire Combined Authority's Transforming Cities Fund.
2024
In 2024, we resurfaced and widened a section of the path between Oakenshaw and Cleckheaton. We also made access improvements to enable a wider range of people to get onto the path. These works were funded by the Department for Transport.
The newly resurfaced Spen Valley Greenway. Credit: Chris Foster/Sustrans
Latest improvements
4 km
of the route will have been improved by the end of 2025.
20 restrictive barriers
will have been removed once the latest improvements works are complete.
Wildlife along the path
The Spen Valley Greenway passes by the Jo Cox Community Woodland and Dewsbury Country Park, connecting communities to their local green spaces.
Our Greener Greenways project helped wildlife on the Spen Valley Greenway. Sustrans staff and volunteers have planted wildflowers, created ponds, and hosted litter picks. Frog spawn has been seen in the ponds in Oakenshaw.
