Transformation work to begin at another city centre location
New visuals and plans have been released by Connecting Leeds showing how the area around the Corn Exchange could look after a £25m makeover.
The area is a key gateway for people visiting or working in the city, as well as being home to one of the city’s most iconic buildings and a lively hub for nightlife.
However, it is usually congested, particularly in rush hour and buses are regularly delayed.
The plans feature provision for safer cycle ways, wider pavements, bus and pedestrian priority, more greenery, improved public realm and upgraded bus shelters.
Work will now start on 24 August to remove the central islands on Duncan Street. This will keep traffic flowing in both directions when work begins on the main scheme.
The first phase of work will focus on the immediate streets around the Corn Exchange. Key aspects include the closure of Call Lane to through traffic, a new cycle way on Lower Briggate and wider pavements outside the Corn Exchange.
The entire Corn Exchange scheme is expected to be complete by winter 2021.
Leeds City Council’s executive member for climate change, transport and sustainable development, Councillor Lisa Mulherin, said: “After careful consultation with the public on this scheme, I am delighted to see it is finally getting underway.
“We have worked very closely with our partners over the past few months to ensure the feedback we received from the public was analysed carefully and we attempted to incorporate as much of that as possible into the new plans.
“This scheme is a significant development in the council’s commitment to be carbon neutral by 2030.
“It includes a number of plans such as pavement widening, protected cycle ways and improved public realm, all of which we hope will encourage active travel in the city.
“We want to stress that we are working hard to create many more new routes which offer improved safety for people to walk and cycle, offering convenience and championing health and wellbeing for our residents.”
