The latest plans for a £24.198 million rail station at White Rose, Leeds, are among the items to be considered by members of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Investment Committee.
Members will be asked to progress plans for the new rail station between Morley and Cotttingley on the Transpennine route at the next committee meeting on Wednesday 3 February 2021.
Alongside proposals for a new accessible station next to the White Rose Office Park, the scheme also 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 fate of Cottingley Rail Station remains in doubt, as it is unlikely two stations, this close together, can be fully sustained. Further substantial consultation with local people on Cottingley Rail Station is due to take place later this year to understand their needs and develop a scheme that best meets their requirements.
West Yorkshire Combined Authority has also comitted to explore a range of options to ensure people in Cottingley and neighboring areas have the access they need to the rail network and other transport links, including the potential for an on-demand bus service for the community.
The scheme is being developed in partnership by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Leeds City Council, Munroe K and Network Rail. It will receive £5 million from the Leeds Public Transport Investment Programme (LPTIP) and up to £12 million from the Leeds City Region Transforming Cities Fund – a major new programme of transport infrastructure investment secured as part of the West Yorkshire devolution deal – as well as contributions from Munroe K.
The Investment Committee will also consider plans for a new £31.642 million parkway rail station at Thorpe Park on the Leeds to York section of the Transpennine route.
Cllr Denise Jeffery, Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Investment Committee and Leader of Wakefield Council, said:
“We are delighted to be working in partnership on plans for the new White Rose Rail Station, which will improve transport links and act as a catalyst for local regeneration, housing growth, economic activity and jobs.
“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, Chair 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 Covid-19 pandemic, but also in tackling the climate emergency by helping us achieve our aim of becoming a net zero carbon economy by 2038.”
Councillor 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. With better and more sustainable connectivity, more homes and thousands of new jobs expected through related schemes, following the Covid-19 pandemic.”
Schemes totalling more than £38 million are seeking £12.6 million from the Getting Building Fund, through which the Combined Authority secured £52.6 million to accelerate 15 “shovel-ready” projects in response to the pandemic, helping create nearly 2,300 new jobs and safeguard a further 500 jobs.
Proposals for an £11.866 million scheme to deliver 6,700 m2 of new green public spaces in Leeds city centre, on the former Tetley Brewery site; and 1.4km of walking and cycling improvements between the South Bank and the city centre, are also among the “shovel-ready” schemes on the agenda.
Members will be asked to approve a £19.656 million scheme to improve bus punctuality and journey times, as well as cycling and walking measures, on the A647 between Armley Gyratory in Leeds and the Leeds Road Gyratory in Bradford.
Both this scheme and the Thorpe Park Rail Station scheme are part-funded through the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP), delivered in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, through the Leeds City Region Growth Deal – a £1 billion package of Government investment to accelerate growth and create jobs across Leeds City Region.
This post is based on a press release issued by West Yorkshire Combined Authority
