A new rail station near the White Rose Centre is now one step closer after Leeds City Council decision-makers agreed to push forward plans for the site.
Members of the council’s decision-making executive board agreed to provide a loan to landowners and developers Munroe K for a new station at White Rose Office Park, which 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 neither the latest documents, nor any members at the Executive Board meeting, made any such reference.
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Briefly presenting the item to colleagues, the council’s deputy leader Coun Debra Coupar (Lab) said: “It is much needed in that area of the city around ensuring we have good economic recovery and employment facility for local residents.”
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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.
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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.”
