New Leeds station entrance will go ahead

The proposed new entrance to Leeds City train station has survived the government spending cuts after lowering its costs.

Plans for the new entrance at Granary Wharf were originally passed last May, with the government expected to have to contribute ££13.7m. But a revised version of the scheme, costing the government £12.4m, has been approved and will now go ahead.

Metro chairman councillor Chris Greaves said: “This announcement that our revised bid for the scheme has been approved will be extremely good news for the thousands of rail passengers from across West Yorkshire for whom the new entrance will mean quicker and more convenient daily access to train services.

"It will also go some way to improving the station’s status as a gateway to Leeds.

“With over 100,000 people passing through Leeds station every weekday and a significant number of them now heading to business and leisure locations to the south of the city centre, Metro has pressed for the development of this new entrance that will provide them with step-free access to the station via escalators and lifts at the western end of the station.

“Of course we are disappointed the Department for Transport has decided not to promote our plans for a new transport interchange that would provide a vital shot in the arm to the economy of Castleford and the Five Towns, to its Development Pool of projects.

“However, based upon research which showed that the new Interchange would encourage local companies to bring forward planned investment and create new jobs in the area, we feel that the recently-submitted Leeds City Region bid to the Government’s Regional Growth Fund makes a firm case for the project to go ahead.

“The Leeds Station Southern entrance and Castleford Interchange are just two of the major transport projects we need in West Yorkshire and we are also urging the government to make an early decision on proposed NGT trolleybus network. And we are also preparing a revised bid for the Leeds Rail Growth package, which remains in the Department for Transport’s Development Pool, which includes new stations at Kirkstall Forge and Apperley Bridge.”