Work starts on transforming Leeds Station’s entrance and surrounding area
The next stage in the transformation of Leeds City Rail Station’s main entrance and surrounding area begins this month. The Leeds Station Sustainable Travel Gateway scheme will create a much-improved and more people-friendly environment capable of safely accommodating growing rail passenger numbers.
A total of £46 million is being invested in the project, which is being delivered by Leeds City Council on behalf of Network Rail as the landowner, and in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
Advance works and preparations have been underway since last May, and work will now move to:
Pedestrianising New Station Street, including the section which meets Boar Lane, with outdoor seating and rest areas, and landscaping.
Relocating the existing taxi rank to Bishopgate Street where there will be a large and well-lit shelter and kerb-side boarding which will help people with wheelchairs or assistance dogs to board more easily.
Two 21-passenger lifts from Bishopgate Street to the station entrance on New Station Street, providing step-free access between the two streets.
A high quality cycle hub at the station, which will include electric charging points and storage for all types of cycles.
Environmental improvements to Neville Street and Dark Neville Street including enhanced lighting, road surface and pavement and elevation treatments.
Installing high quality cycle infrastructure on Bishopgate Street and Neville Street, and improvements to cycling infrastructure in surrounding communities.
Since securing planning permission for the scheme, Leeds City Council and Network Rail have been working together to combine the Sustainable Travel Gateway scheme with a separate project which will see Network Rail reinforce the underground structure below New Station Street which supports much of the station above it.
Delivering the two schemes in tandem will mean less disruption in the long-term and also reduces the need to revisit the Sustainable Travel Gateway scheme at a later date if further works are required as part of Network Rail’s scheme.
Cllr James Lewis, Leader of Leeds City Council, said, “We are delighted to begin these improvements in earnest, creating a gateway to our city that meets the current and future needs of everyone who uses the station.
“Our railway station plays a key role in the North of England’s rail connectivity, so it is vital that we provide a much better experience and capacity for station users as we prepare to welcome further investment in our region’s rail network including the Transpennine Route Upgrade and Northern Powerhouse Rail.”
Cllr Helen Hayden, Leeds City Council’s executive member for infrastructure and climate, said, “These works complement our ongoing transformation of City Square and will create a safer and people-friendly environment, not only improving access to the station but also building better links between the existing city centre and the wider South Bank.”
The works are being delivered through the Combined Authority’s Transforming Cities Fund programme, which is aimed at making it easier for people to walk, cycle and use public transport.
The project is the first stage in the Leeds Integrated Station Masterplan – the vision of Leeds City Council, Network Rail, the Combined Authority and partners to transform the Station into a world class hub and catalyst for wider regeneration in the south of the city centre.
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, added, “Leeds City Rail Station is one of the busiest in the country - it’s a gateway to a vibrant city, as well as many destinations across our region and beyond.
“Growing our economy, connecting more people with opportunities and tackling the climate emergency are at the heart of making West Yorkshire an even better place to live and work, and these improvements are key to that.”