Planning chiefs set for decision on Leeds station revamp plans
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
Plans to revamp the station, which include building a new cycle hub, taxi rank and a new lift from Bishopgate Street, are set to go before Leeds City Council decision-makers.
Plans also include allowing part of the wall separating New Station Street and Bishopgate Street – itself a listed building – to be demolished, with a new wall built in its place.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdA report by council officers stated: “The principle aim of the proposal is to create a fully accessible multi modal transport hub with free flowing pedestrian movement out of the station to the city centre and wider city areas.
“The new pedestrian focused arrival space to the front of Leeds Train Station will reduce the flow of vehicular traffic, improve connectivity and create a safer environment for pedestrians and cyclists using the station and adjacent streets.
“Further to this, the scheme also aims to respond to counter-terrorism requirements to protect the New Station Street station entrance from potential vehicle incursion, be this deliberate or accidental, and to make the space safer for the larger number of people that will be using it.
“The scheme also aims to improve air quality by discouraging general traffic and by creating connections to the existing cycling routes and improving route connectivity.”
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdIt added the scheme would help promote sustainable modes of transport, as well as improving pedestrian and cycle routes and making the station more accessible.
The report’s conclusion states: “Officers consider that, on the basis of the findings of the access options report, the originally designed scheme, to create the two new 21 person pedestrian lifts and the steps to both sides of the lift/kiosk building, and provide a level access under the Queens hotel portico would bring the optimum solution for addressing accessibility between New Station Street and Bishopgate Street.”
The plans will be discussed at a meeting of Leeds City Council’s City Plans Panel on Thursday, October 22.
So what is going to change about the area around Leeds rail station if the plans are signed off?
New Station Street/Taxi rank
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThe report states New Station Street – the road which directly passes the front entrance of the station – will be entirely pedestrianised from the junction with Boar Lane to the point where it meets City Square, with only service vehicles and British Transport Police allowed access.
This means the taxi rank will be moved to Bishopgate Street below, and will include a purpose-built shelter.
It added: “The existing taxi rank accommodates three vehicles with a feeder rank set out for 25 vehicles along the length of New Station Street. By contrast the new taxi rank on Bishopgate Street can accommodate up to 6 taxis and is to have a series of successive feeder ranks, with space to accommodate up to 26 spaces (32 spaces in total).”
The rank will also include seating for up to 15 people, as well as flights of stairs, a bike ramp and two lifts connecting the site with New Station Street.
The new lifts
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThese will, according to the report, be large enough to accommodate 21 people in each lift.
It added: “Entrance doors to the lifts will be slow opening, and will include glazing to allow users to see into and out of the lifts. The sides of the lift will be solid to allow for the location of the lift control panels.”
Each lift will be fitted with internal handrails and canopies at the entrances to provide shelter to the users.
The new steps
Landings will be provided at regular intervals on the stairs, while ‘tactile paving’ will be installed at the tops and bottoms of the steps.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdIt added: “The steps would have generous widths to reduce perceptions of confinement in small spaces – this is a significant upgrade over the current covered stair rotunda.”
Cycle storage hub
A 700-space cycle storage hub will be built at the junction of Bishopgate Street and the Neville Street bridge. It will also include space for electric bikes and is expected to “offer maintenance and repair services”.
Cycle routes
The report states: “Enhanced pedestrian and cycle friendly routes through Neville Street, Dark Neville Street and Victoria Road to actively promote sustainable forms of transport.
“Improving connectivity across the city centre by installing high quality cycle lanes on key strategic gaps in the city centre.”