Latest plans for two railway stations to come under scrutiny
Plans for a £24.2m railway station at White Rose, Leeds, are among items to be considered by members of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Investment Committee.
Members will be asked to progress plans for the station between Morley and Cottingley on the Transpennine route at their next committee meeting on 3 February.
Alongside proposals for an accessible station next to the White Rose Office Park, the scheme includes better walking and cycling routes between the station and Cottingley, Churwell and Millshaw, as well as the White Rose Shopping Centre and the bus interchange.
The scheme is being developed by West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Leeds City Council, Munroe K and Network Rail.
It will receive £5m from the Leeds Public Transport Investment Programme (LPTIP) and up to £12m from the Leeds City Region Transforming Cities Fund, as well as contributions from Munroe K.
The Investment Committee will also consider plans for a £31.6m parkway rail station at Thorpe Park on the Leeds to York section of the Transpennine route.
Councillor Denise Jeffery, chairman of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Investment Committee and Leader of Wakefield Council, said: “It is great to see plans for two new rail stations coming forward, alongside other important schemes on the agenda for the Investment Committee to consider.
“In these challenging times, it is more important than ever that we continue to deliver this medium-term investment to ensure our communities benefit from a modern, accessible transport network, which connects more people with job, training and education opportunities.”
Cllr Kim Groves, chairman of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Transport Committee, said: “A new rail station at White Rose will bring new opportunities for people in Cottingley, Churwell, Millshaw and Morley.
“Building the future we want with a transport system fit for the 21st century is absolutely vital, not only as we look to pave a way forward for our region following the pandemic, but also in tackling the climate emergency by helping us achieve our aim of becoming a net zero carbon economy by 2038.”
Cllr Lisa Mulherin, Leeds City Council’s executive member for climate change, transport and sustainable development, said: “I am pleased to see the progression of the White Rose Rail Station project, which along with the proposed Thorpe Park Rail Station moving to its next stage, will form part of an improved city-wide transport system for Leeds.
“The changes when approved will improve access to the city centre for residents in surrounding neighbourhoods, visitors to Leeds and the 10,000 young people who learn in the South Bank’s schools and colleges each day.
“Alongside transformational schemes such as the new city centre park, with cycling and walking links to Leeds Station, these sustainable transport links will provide more opportunities to reduce our city’s carbon impact and support our economic recovery.”
Schemes totalling more than £38m are seeking £12.6m from the Getting Building Fund, through which the Combined Authority secured £52.6m to accelerate 15 projects in response to the pandemic, helping create nearly 2,300 new jobs and safeguard a further 500 jobs.
This includes the first phase of the Bradford “City Village”, which features plans to invest £23.3m in the development of an attractive shopping experience, at the heart of which will be a new Darley Street market.
Proposals for an £11.8m scheme to deliver 72,100 sq ft of new green public spaces in Leeds city centre, and 1.4km of walking and cycling improvements between the South Bank and the city centre, as well as a £3m scheme for a new community hub at the Kellingley Miner’s Welfare building in Knottingley, are also on the agenda.
