Green light for Kirkstall Forge station

LEEDS City Council has approved plans for a new railway station at Kirkstall Forge.

The proposals for the new station, which form part of developer Commercial Estates Group’s (CEG) wider scheme to transform the 56-acre former industrial site into a thriving mixed-use community, were unanimously supported by the planning committee.

CEG’s masterplan for Kirkstall Forge includes 1,045 homes, 300,000 sq ft of commercial office space, and retail and leisure facilities.

The company has provided £4m towards the delivery of the station, which will serve the new Forge development and the wider area including Kirkstall, south Horsforth and Bramley Falls.

Metro chairman Coun Ryk Downes said: “A new station at Kirkstall Forge is a key element in reducing congestion along a busy road corridor into Leeds and I am glad that Leeds City Council has now given the project planning permission.
 
“Metro has worked closely with Network Rail, Northern, Leeds City Council and site developer CEG, which is contributing £4m to the larger £23.24m rail growth scheme, so it is important that we now ensure that the Government gives the scheme the go-ahead so this private sector funding is not lost.”

Charles Johnson, of CEG, added: “The new railway station will mean that Kirkstall Forge will only be a six minute journey from Leeds city centre. This, together with the riverside frontage and facilities such as a gym, crèche, hotel, restaurants and bars makes it an ideal location for residents and businesses to locate.”

Subject to approval from the Department for Transport, the station could be opened in 2013.

Initially, Kirkstall Forge will be served half-hourly in each direction by trains between Leeds, Shipley and Bradford Forster Square.

A public exhibition of the plans was held last June following a widespread letter drop to residents within a mile radius of the proposed station.