Regional leaders to decide on plan to revive stalled railway station development

Plans to restart and complete the stalled delivery of a new White Rose Railway Station will be set out to regional leaders next week.

Situated on the Leeds to Huddersfield line, the station is being built next to the White Rose Business Park and a short walk from the White Rose Shopping Centre.

The project has been delivered in partnership, with Munroe K its promoter and joint funder, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority a joint promoter and part funder, and Spencer Rail the principal contractor.

But following on-site challenges, resulting in commercial and programme impacts on the project, work was halted on site in spring 2024.

An update will be given to the full West Yorkshire Combined Authority meeting on 8 May, where regional leaders will be asked to approve additional funding to tackle project legacy issues and progress work towards the completion of the station.

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “I want to see the station open to passengers as soon as possible as it will improve connectivity to South Leeds, attract significant investment and act as a catalyst for the area’s regeneration.

“If agreed, this decision will represent a major step towards resuming construction as we work with both the Department for Transport and Network Rail to confirm funding and put in place a delivery partnership.

“By upgrading our rail links and investing in public transport, we’re creating a better-connected West Yorkshire.”

The report due to be discussed next week outlines some of the obstacles experienced by the project since construction started on site in Spring 2022.

The station has been assessed as approximately 70 per cent complete, despite the full funding allocation of £26.5m being spent, with the Combined Authority contributing £12m from the Transforming Cities Fund and £5m from the Leeds Public Transport Infrastructure Programme.

Key areas still to finish include: external cladding, internal fit out, mechanical and electrical works including the installation of the lifts, external works, and operational railway works including signalling and Customer Information Systems.

Over the past year partners have been working to review the financial position of the project and consider options to complete delivery of the station.

As completion of the White Rose Station involves closure of nearby Cottingley Station, discussions are continuing with Network Rail as it delivers the Transpennine Route Upgrade.

Work is ongoing to develop a preferred approach to “remobilise” the project, narrow down the likely range of costs to complete the station, and provide greater clarity on timescales.

A further report will then be brought back to the Combined Authority in the summer, seeking approval to re-start construction.

The Combined Authority says “subject to quick decision making and mobilisation”, the station could be open by January 2027.