Council asks for feedback on new rail station plans

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 the city are now open for public feedback.

The plans 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 Rail North, the Leeds transport advisory panel and other local stakeholders.

As part of the consultation which runs until Friday 27 July there will also be a series of a drop-in events starting next week.

Connecting Leeds 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 Cllr 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, added: “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

Thorpe Park

Feedback will be analysed and considered to 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.