£22m White Rose rail station could be finished in 2022

The £22m plan, which would see a station built close to the White Rose Centre, will be developed and part-financed by the land’s owners, Munroe K, and could be built as early as next year.

Previous plans to bring forward a new rail station on the site had suggested the closure of nearby Cottingley Station, but the latest documents make no such reference.

A document by Leeds City Council officers states: “The station will support the city’s response to the climate emergency by helping to take cars off the road to improve air quality and reduce carbon emissions.

“It will improve accessibility of rail services and better serve the communities of Cottingley, Churwell and Millshaw, whilst also better connecting people to jobs, education and training.”

It added that Munroe K would act as the developer of the station., and that construction could start in autumn this year and be finished by late 2022.

The station is forecast to cost around £22m, with £5m expected to come from the council’s Connecting Leeds grant scheme; £5m from the Government’s New Stations Fund, £12m from its Transforming Cities Fund, and “up to £4.5m” from Munroe K.

Leeds City Council plans to provide a loan facility to Munroe K to finance the company’s “maximum contribution to the scheme”.

The report added: “This is to ensure momentum to the station is maintained, whilst helping to accelerate the delivery of economic and environmental benefits.”

An area of land between Churwell viaduct to the north and Walkers Bridge to the south had been earmarked for the development.

A council report from June 2020 had suggested that the building of a new White Rose Station could spell the end for nearby Cottingley station, as having two rail stations situated in such close proximity may not be viable.

The latest report does not make reference to any closure of other stations, though it does include the line: “It will improve accessibility of rail services and better serve the communities of Cottingley, Churwell and Millshaw, whilst also better connecting people to jobs, education and training.”

The document will be discussed by Leeds City Council’s executive board on Wednesday, June 23.