Public engagement on new rail stations for Leeds gets underway

Public engagement on plans to create two new rail stations in Leeds has started this week.

Details of the proposals for new stations at White Rose and Thorpe Park as part of the Connecting Leeds programme to improve travel and transport in Leeds are now open for public feedback.

The proposals would see new stations created to improve access to two of the major existing employment and leisure areas of the city, with expected future growth, investment and new housing resulting in rising demand for better connectivity. The Thorpe Park proposal also includes park and ride facilities to Leeds city centre, helping to reduce congestion by taking traffic out of the city centre and improving air quality.

The proposals have been put forward by Leeds City Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, working closely with rail industry, Rail North, the Leeds transport advisory panel and other local stakeholders.

To see the proposals and give comments and feedback go to www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk. As part of the engagement which runs until Friday 27 July there will also be a series of a drop-in events starting next week (Tuesday 10 July) where the plans will be on show and representatives from Leeds City Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority will be available to answer questions.

Connecting Leeds is the programme of unprecedented investment in transport and travel in Leeds and to the wider Leeds City Region, focusing on investing in infrastructure and service improvements to all aspects of the transport network. It aims to encourage greater use of public transport through new and more efficient bus, rail, park and ride, cycling and walking services and facilities which will also delivered improved air quality levels in Leeds.

Leeds City Council executive member for regeneration, transport and planning Councillor Richard Lewis said:

“These two new station proposals are part of our exciting Connecting Leeds vision for improved transport in the city which features significant investment in major new infrastructure. These stations are planned to meet the needs of people travelling to and from two areas of employment growth in the city at Thorpe Park and White Rose.

“Thorpe Park will provide a park and ride for the east of the city as a whole and a rapid public transport link into the city for the planned population growth around it.

"While there is already large-scale employment at the White Rose shopping centre and the neighbouring office park, this is likely to grow further now that Millshaw has a new owner. The White Rose station will complement the transport offer in the area which already has a park and ride at Elland Road and where cycling infrastructure is due to grow with longer-term ambitions for the City Connect Superhighway in the future.

“We know thousands of people would make use of these stations so it is important as many people as possible take part in this engagement process so we can get it right to deliver the maximum benefit for all.”

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

“Working in partnership with Leeds we have already delivered major projects including the rail station at Kirkstall Forge and park-and-ride schemes at Temple Green and Elland Road, helping reduce congestion and connect people to opportunities.

“We now look forward to hearing what people have to say about the plans for these two stations which could play a crucial role in helping people across the Leeds City Region access jobs, education and services.”

Details of the public engagement events are as follows:

White Rose engagement

Thorpe Park engagement

Following the engagement period, the feedback will be analysed and considered and will help guide the preparation of the outline business case for the stations which is expected to be ready by spring 2019.

Alongside the work on these two stations, preparation work is also continuing on developing proposals for a third new rail station on the Leeds to Harrogate line to act as a parkway station to serve Leeds Bradford Airport as well as offering park and ride services to both Leeds and Harrogate. Further details on that proposal will be announced in the coming months.

Notes to editors:

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, helping to support and bring 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.

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact:

Roger Boyde

Leeds City Council communications,

Tel: 0113 378 9164

Email: roger.boyde@leeds.gov.uk