Rail firm in shopping area talks over new £14m Leeds station entrance

The firm, which owns and operates Britain’s rail infrastructure, wants the new entrance, which is proposed at Granary Wharf, to direct pedestrians to Dark Neville Street to create a more viable shopping area.

Metro has already secured Government funding for a new southern entrance to the station. The Government will pay £12.4m of the £14.4m project cost.

The head of retail at Network Rail, Gavin McKechnie, said: “It would reduce the cost considerably rather than trying to straddle the river and it would make much more sense.

“If it goes too far away from the dark arches we won’t be able to get the footfall down there.”

He added: “We will contribute to the debate. In the end it’s Metro who will be building it but we’ve had some great discussions with them already.”

A Metro spokesman said: “Although the design for the new southern entrance at Leeds Station is well advanced, with planning consent and funding approval from the Department for Transport, Metro is keen to discuss with its partners Network Rail and Leeds City Council how we might maximise retail opportunities and linkages as part of the development.”

Network Rail made its case for the new entrance as it promised major changes to Leeds City Station.

The first phase of work will start this summer and see the south concourse undergo a major facelift, including opening old skylights and improve lighting, while a new Sainsbury’s store will open in the north concourse.

Plans are also being developed for a new 350-space multi-story car park and to remodel the drop-off area at the rear of the station and discussions are under way with Leeds City Council about changes to the New Station Street entrance.

Plans also include finding a developer to build new offices off Prince’s Square and refurbishing City House, which was bought by developer Bruntwood last year.

Mr McKechnie said: “Basically we’ve got an old station which is a bit tired. It’s congested and we need to increase the capacity of the station before we can increase the capacity of the trains.”

He predicted the work to revamp the station could be completed by 2014. “Some of it is almost cosmetic – the retail we can turn around quite quickly,” he said.

He added that Network Rail is working with Leeds City Council on a travel plan as part of the modernisation of the station’s main entrance. “We certainly want to move the taxis to further down the street,” said Mr McKechnie. “The wider travel plan is a wider plan for Leeds. We can only do a little bit of it, although we recognise we have a part to play.”

Leeds, York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce has welcomed Network Rail’s master plan but is calling for further long-term development to accommodate the forecasted increase in passenger numbers.

Passenger numbers in Leeds are set to rise by 16 per cent by 2014 and by 62 per cent by 2029.

Chamber director of business representation Ian Williams said: “We believe that more development is still needed to cope with the significant forecasted increase in passenger numbers, as well as the arrival of high-speed rail in 2030.

“The additional car-parking, improved pedestrian links and southern Entrance will relieve some of the increased congestion, but investment in additional platforms is also needed, as well as a review into how the station connects to other modes of local transport, such as buses and taxis.

“A coordinated approach by Network Rail, Metro and Leeds City Council is vital to making sure that this additional development takes place and the chamber will continue to work with all parties in lobbying for investment.”