Green light for £16m Leeds station scheme means Carillion can crack on

WOLVERHAMPTON construction and support services giant Carillion can now start work on the southern entrance project at Leeds railway station after proposals for the scheme were approved by the Government.

The Department for Transport said it will provide a maximum of £12.4m towards the project.

Local transport minister Baroness Susan Kramer yesterday gave the all-clear to proposals, which include a new pedestrian entrance and access to the southern side of the station to and from the existing platform footbridge.

The project consists of an enclosed structure over the River Aire that incorporates lifts, escalators and stairs allowing passengers access from the current western footbridge within the station to ground level either side of the river.

The Leeds Station Southern Entrance scheme was one of the projects given funding approval in 2011 as part of the Spending Review process. Work can now start on it.

Phil Verster, route managing director for Network Rail, added: “As a gateway to one of the biggest and most economically important cities outside London, Leeds station must reflect and enhance the city it serves. We expect passenger numbers using the station to rise by 16% by 2014 and by 62% by 2029.”

Carillion has called in its own designer to complete the initial scheme drawn up for Network Rail by AECOM.