Multimillion-pound station project set for approval

Plans for multimillion-pound improvements to Leeds Station’s entrance and the surrounding area have been recommended for approval.Leeds City Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority have submitted a bid to the Department for Transport’s Transforming Cities Fund for £39.5m to support the ‘Sustainable Travel Gateway’ project.Improvements included within a planning application to be scrutinised by Leeds City Council next week include: the pedestrianisation of New Station Street and relocation of the existing taxi rank to Bishopgate Street; improving accessibility through the installation of two passenger lifts from Bishopgate Street to the entrance on New Station Street; and environmental improvements to Neville Street and Dark Neville Street including enhanced lighting, road surface and pavement treatments and urban art installationsCycle infrastructure will also be installed on Neville Street, alongside improvements to cycling infrastructure in surrounding communities, and a 700-space cycle hub with electric charging points at the station. New commercial space will be built within the cycle hub land.According to planning officers, the proposal would result in a “high quality, appropriate development”, that would allow Leeds Train Station, already the busiest station in the North, to adapt to a predicted increase in user need, while creating a traffic calmed, greened, accessible environment that promotes sustainable modes of transport through its focus on pedestrians and cycling and its creation of a bespoke taxi facility.The proposals involve a limited amount of work on the boundary of the listed The Queens Hotel but this is expected to result in “less than substantial harm”.Planning approval and listed building consent is recommended, subject to conditions.