12.10.17
Councillors consider £500m Leeds station upgrade
Proposals to make £500m worth of changes to Leeds station in order to transform it into an integrated central hub for HS2 have been discussed by councillors this week.
The plans, which relate to both the high-speed rail and Northern Powerhouse projects, include an increase in the number of entrance points and the creation of a station campus district with new commercial, residential and leisure developments.
If delivered, the number of platforms would be increased to meet demand and an extended concourse would be built to connect HS2, Northern Powerhouse Rail and existing services combined with an overbridge structure to offer complete access.
There has already been major investment in the station, with the introduction of the £20m southern entrance in January 2016, and plans for the latest work have been discussed since Sir David Higgins published his ‘Yorkshire Hub’ report in November 2015.
Initial plans involved Leeds having two separate stations – the existing station plus a new HS2 hub – but were scrapped following Higgins’ report and replaced with one central hub.
The new proposals also include the opportunity to add increased transport access, improve disability access and install a new roof in the station to improve lighting.
Leader of Leeds City Council, Cllr Judith Blake, said: “Leeds station has a vital role to play in the future of our city and the wider region, boosting connectivity and being a key driver of social and economic improvement and opportunity.
“Aside from being a fully integrated transport hub, we want it to be a distinctive, attractive place people want to be and visit, with a clear identity as a welcoming gateway to our city and beyond.
“As a major asset for the city, region and the north as a whole, its potential must be maximised to become a catalyst for inward investment, job creation and to generate inclusive growth for the benefit of all.”
The plans also propose ways of preparing students for jobs in the construction, infrastructure, manufacturing, engineering and digital sectors in order to maximise the benefits HS2 can bring.
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