Connecting Leeds seeks views on The Corn Exchange City Centre Gateway

Revealed today are updated plans to transform The Corn Exchange City Centre Gateway.

The Council’s Connecting Leeds team are consulting on transport plans which cover an area around The Corn Exchange and adjoining streets, including Call Lane, Lower Briggate and Meadow Lane.

The aim is to improve bus reliability and ensure they can navigate easily through the city centre. It also will enhance the quality of the city centre by increasing public space and improving walking and cycling.

Last summer’s feedback on the initial concepts for the City Centre Gateways was positive. Around 76 per cent of those who responded, supported The Corn Exchange scheme. These proposals now further developed address bus service reliability, cycle safety, accessibility, pedestrian comfort, more greenery and quality of the public realm.

Some bus stops will be relocated to better areas with wider footways for passengers to wait. Bus-only restrictions will be put in place to create more space and be extended to improve bus journey time reliability. The proposals are consistent with the Council’s ‘Our Spaces Strategy.’

By improving bus reliability and punctuality, The Corn Exchange scheme will help increase public transport use, in line with the council’s target of doubling the number of bus users in ten years.

Local businesses, residents and general public can have their say online by visiting: https://leedscitycentretransport.commonplace.is/overview​ by 4 November. 

An event to share the new designs, plans and improvements to Leeds Bus Station, will take place 3.30pm to 7.30pm on Monday 14 October, at The Corn Exchange. Other opportunities to view these plans are available, with events at Leeds Bus Station from 10am to 1pm on Tuesday 22 October, and 3pm to 6pm on Thursday 24 October.

The plans cover investment to improve the heart of the city centre with the work scheduled to complete by March 2021. They include:

· The Corn Exchange and Call Lane

· Vicar Lane

· Lower Briggate and Duncan Street

· Swinegate junction

· New York Street, York Street and Kirkgate

· Bridge End and Leeds Bridge

· Meadow Lane

· Boar Lane

These improvements are part of Connecting Leeds, the council’s transport strategy for the city. Connecting Leeds are working with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, partners and stakeholders to improve all aspects of the transport network in Leeds and connecting to the wider Leeds City Region. The scheme’s funded through the £270 million Leeds Public Transport Investment Programme which will also improve local air quality and encourage active travel.

Leeds City Council’s executive member for climate change, regeneration, transport and planning, Cllr Lisa Mulherin, said:

“Enabling more people to use public transport, cycling and walking are an essential part of helping to tackle our climate emergency. These plans show huge improvements for public transport reliability, reducing delays and giving buses priority to easily get through the city centre.

“They will also make it easier for people to move about by foot or by bike. We’re also keen to see what people think about proposals for more car free public spaces and outdoor recreation. Our aim is to transform our city into a greener and more attractive place, with fewer vehicles and cleaner air, for everyone’s benefit.”

Councillor Kim Groves, Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Transport Committee, said:

“These proposals for a wide area around the Corn Exchange are designed to attract more people to use city centre buses by making services more reliable and punctual.

“Increasing bus patronage and reducing congestion in the city centre will also help meet the Combined Authority and its partners’ commitment to improving local air quality and tackling climate change.

“I would encourage everyone to have their say on these widespread improvements around the Corn Exchange as well as plans to transform Leeds Bus Station either online by coming along to one of the planned drop-in events.”

Further information

The vision set out for Connecting Leeds is to deliver a transformational step change in the transport network and connectivity in Leeds and the wider region. It’s aiming to help and support bringing people, places, jobs, learning and leisure closer together. This will be achieved through improvements to road, rail, bus, park and ride, cycling and walking services and infrastructure, reducing congestion and improving air quality and accessibility in Leeds along with utilising the latest technology innovations.

It has been developed from the feedback received in the biggest-ever transport conversation held with residents, businesses, stakeholders and visitors in the city which included more than 8,000 people taking part in a survey in 2016.

For more information go to www.leeds.gov.uk/connectingleeds or @ConnectingLeeds on twitter or through Leeds City Council’s Facebook page.

For more information about how the Corn Exchange Gateway transformation fits into the Leeds Our Spaces strategy visit www.leedsourspaces.co.uk

For media enquiries please contact:

Adrian Capon

Leeds City Council communications and marketing

T: 0113 378 1622

Email: adrian.capon@leeds.gov.uk