New Leeds railway station to begin construction this autumn

Plans to start construction on a railway station in Leeds have been approved, connecting communities and boosting the cities response to the climate emergency.

The White Rose Railway Station will be located on the Transpennine rail route in south Leeds, connecting people in Cottingley, Churwell and Millshaw with jobs, education and training opportunities, while improving air quality and reducing traffic congestion in the city.

The project is expected to cost around £22m, and is hoped to be completed by the end of 2022, allowing the city to reap the economic benefits of the development while it recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Cllr Helen Hayden, Leeds City Council’s executive member for infrastructure and climate, said: ‘Improved transport connections are a hugely-important way of unlocking the potential, economic and otherwise, of all our local communities, particularly now, as we look to bounce back from the many problems caused by Covid-19.

‘In addition, the station will have a vital role in driving wider regeneration efforts, both at the White Rose Park and in areas across the rest of south Leeds, by supporting housing and economic growth.’

The development of the station has led to a reimagination of the White Rose office park, home to major employers including HSBC, Capita and DAZN, which will create new jobs and provide high-quality space for work in fields related to smart cities and internet of things.

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said that she is ‘delighted’ to see the scheme move a step closer to starting on site, in line with her manifesto pledge to improve public transport and protect the environment.

‘The new White Rose Rail Station will connect more people with job, training and education opportunities, while also helping us tackle the climate emergency on our way to becoming a net zero carbon economy by 2038,’ she said.

Public consultation has indicated widespread support for the project, with 71% of respondents saying they were happy or very happy with the plans for the station.

The construction will be delivered in collaboration between Leeds City Council, Munroe K, Network Rail and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, with funding from the Leeds Public Transport Investment Programme, Leeds City Region Transforming Cities Fund and the government’s New Stations Fund.

Photo by Alexander Popov