Leeds City Council is endorsing the initial phase of the West Yorkshire mass transit scheme, according to a report set to be presented to senior councillors next week.
The West Yorkshire Combined Authority is in the midst of consulting on this phase, which proposes establishing tram routes between St James’ Hospital and the White Rose office park and shopping center, as well as between Leeds and Bradford. The report, scheduled for review by Leeds City Council’s executive board at Leeds Civic Hall on Wednesday, September 18, highlights the council’s acknowledgment of the ‘strategic importance’ of a mass transit system in enhancing transportation links and fostering economic growth and regeneration across Leeds and the broader West Yorkshire region.
The report details several benefits of the mass transit system, including ‘unlocking new housing growth opportunities across the city’ and ‘making jobs and opportunities more accessible to residents,’ while also linking them to educational, healthcare, and local centers, as well as to social and leisure destinations in the city center.
Furthermore, the report emphasizes that the mass transit system is crucial for transforming Leeds into a city less dependent on cars, supporting a shift from private car use to public transit, thus reducing congestion and helping the city meet its carbon net-zero targets. The proposed routes under the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s consultation are divided into three sections: the ‘Leeds Line’ which covers Leeds City Center and South Leeds, and the ‘Bradford Line’. For the Leeds City Center, there are four proposed routing options, running between St James’ Hospital and the River Aire at Victoria Bridge.
The report outlines three routing options for the South Leeds segment, which would extend from Victoria Bridge to the White Rose Shopping Centre. These routes could either pass through Holbeck and Elland Road or follow the A653 Dewsbury Road. Meanwhile, the Bradford Line would connect Leeds and Bradford, with possible paths running between either Stanningley or Pudsey, and either Armley or Wortley.
For the Leeds city center route, the council favors the route known as L1, which would traverse East Parade and Infirmary Street, connecting to the South Leeds route designated as L6. This route would pass by Elland Road, Elland Road Stadium, and Ring Road Beeston, leading directly to the White Rose site.
The report emphasizes the council’s support for routes that not only reach key destinations like universities and hospitals but also integrate with existing housing developments and the Innovation Arc. These routes are seen as pivotal in driving urban regeneration, acting as a catalyst for change by facilitating the development of brownfield sites and placemaking that contributes to new housing delivery and economic growth.
The report further highlights the transformative potential of mass transit in enhancing accessibility to southern parts of the city, particularly along the corridor that includes Elland Road, the football stadium, White Rose Office Park, White Rose Shopping Centre, and the outer south Leeds area, extending to growth points in Kirklees. It notes that routes through Middleton, similar to those proposed in the previously-proposed New Generation Transport (NGT) scheme, would be ‘sub-optimal’. It advises that previous ‘negative feedback’ concerning the NGT routes should be considered in route planning.
The importance of improving connections between Leeds and Bradford, the two largest cities in West Yorkshire, is recognized, with a focus on the clear regeneration opportunities that these enhanced connections would provide to key settlements along the proposed routes. The council is also keen on ensuring that places like Pudsey benefit significantly from the establishment of enhanced transport links, supporting better connectivity between the city center, Pudsey, and Bradford.
However, at this point, the report does not express a specific preference for any of the three proposed options for the Bradford Line. It mentions that the council is open to ‘further conversations on the design development with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA)’ to better inform future decisions regarding a preferred route. This includes considerations on how any proposed route would integrate with existing railway networks and the Northern Powerhouse Rail proposals, strategies to minimize disruptions to local highways, and ways to effectively serve communities along the route.
Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s deputy leader and executive member for economy, transport and sustainable development said:
“We are extremely supportive of mass transit in Leeds and the wider West Yorkshire region. It will improve transport connections, bring people within easier reach of jobs and opportunities, boost our economic growth and regeneration ambitions, and have a positive impact on people’s overall quality of life.
“Improved connectivity with our neighbours in Bradford is incredibly important in boosting both cities’ economic potential and is something that we would like to see delivered as soon as possible.
“We recognise that the combined authority’s proposals are at an early stage, and as such we require greater clarity in some key areas, but overall we are keen to realise mass transit and its benefits for our city and the wider region as a whole.”
The executive board report details the council’s technical feedback to the combined authority’s initial consultation phase. Once approved in the upcoming executive board meeting, the council will officially submit its response to the combined authority. The complete report is available for review at www.democracy.leeds.gov.uk
The combined authority’s initial mass transit consultation period will conclude on 30 September 2024. For more information, please visit www.wymasstransit.com
