Construction has been halted at the new White Rose railway station to allow a financial review of the scheme to be carried out as construction costs have spiralled.
The £26.5 million station is being build at White Rose Park by a consortium including Munroe K, West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Network Rail on the Leeds-Huddersfield Trans Pennine line.
David Aspin, CEO of Munroe K who own White Rose Park, told the Yorkshire Evening Post:
“We understand the disappointment this news may bring, especially given the anticipation for the station’s opening.
“However, we firmly believe that taking this step now is in the best interest of ensuring the project’s long-term success and sustainability.
“Our focus remains on delivering a state-of-the-art railway station that will serve as a cornerstone for economic development in south Leeds.”
As we reported in January, the opening of the new station, which will see the closure of the existing station at Cottingley, had already been put back from “early 2024” to later this year, but that now seems in doubt.
Much of the work on the station has been compeleted including construction of the platforms, lift tower and two link bridges.
A spokesperson for the West Yorkshire Combined Authority said:
“We are investing £22 million into White Rose Rail Station. This scheme is a major priority for West Yorkshire. We are committed to working with partners to see it open as soon as possible.”
Image: CGI of the completed station
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