Stourton Park & Ride

Stourton Park & Ride

An update on our plans

Park & Ride has already proven highly successful in reducing the number of cars travelling into the city each day. Park and ride forms a key part of the Connecting Leeds strategy. The proposed Stourton park and ride will provide a range of benefits for the city and local residents:

Reduced congestion: Travelling the last mile or two on a bus significantly helps reduce congestion and delays, particularly during peak times. Less traffic on the roads will make it easier and quicker for residents from the local area to access the city centre.

Stourton park and ride forms part of a wider strategy for the Wakefield to Leeds route: Proposals include bus lanes, smart traffic lights and limited stop bus services, helping deliver quick and reliable journey times for existing bus users.

A more people focused city: Having fewer cars on the streets frees up space for people, enabling us to create more healthy and liveable streets in which to move around, spend time and have fun.

Improved air quality: Using zero emission electric buses and having fewer cars travelling along local roads will result in better air quality and improved public health for local residents.

The plan below shows the location of existing and planned future park & ride sites across the city.

Features of the proposed Stourton park & ride that will benefit the local community

Ideally located on the road network, with direct access from the M621 motorway and Wakefield Road (A61 South). This will reduce the number of vehicles using Hunslet Road, benefiting residents of Middleton and Belle Isle when accessing the city centre.

Those living within walking distance of the site will benefit from access to more frequent bus services. Proposals will complement planned investment in existing bus services with brand new buses to be introduced on services 12 and 13 later this year.

A new bus lane along Wakefield Road past the site to help deliver quicker and more reliable services for existing bus users travelling to Leeds from Rothwell, Lofthouse and Wakefield.

Waiting restrictions in the area surrounding the site will be developed in consultation with local residents to ensure vehicles using the site do not cause disruption for people living nearby.

The site will be limited to 1,200 spaces, including dedicated disabled, family and motorcycle bays. Former proposals to enable further expansion of the site in future are not now being progressed, as a direct consequence of concerns raised about the impact of a larger site by the local community.

Secure cycle storage to help promote ‘cycle and ride’, with better routes for cyclists linking the site to Middleton and Belle Isle.

Existing footpaths between Parnaby Road and Ring Road Middleton will be diverted through the site to avoid impacting on Hunslet Cemetery.

Zero emission electric buses will serve the site every 10-15 minutes from early morning into the evening.

Electric vehicle charging points will promote zero emission car use.

Extensive landscaping using raised banks, plants, hedges and evergreen trees to provide screening from the surrounding residential areas and Hunslet Cemetery.

CCTV will cover both the site itself and the neighbouring Hunslet Cemetery, increasing security for local residents in the area.

Solar ‘carport’

Leeds City Council is bidding to secure investment from the European Regional Development Fund to install solar panels above some of the car parking spaces  across the Stourton site.

Solar panels would be installed on canopies above the cars to generate electricity which will be used to power lighting, electric vehicle charging points, CCTV and heat the waiting room at the Park & Ride site.

Depending on the number of panels installed, excess energy may be transferred to local homes creating a new smart energy hub in South Leeds.

Artist's impression and next steps

Construction is well underway and the site is planned to be opened in winter 2021.

We are aware that some local residents have raised concerns regarding the scheme. We have therefore amended our proposals to reduce the impact of the scheme on local communities in direct response to the feedback received.

More information on how the design of the Park & Ride site has changed is included in our Frequently Asked Questions document (click here to download the PDF ).

Location map

The below map identifies the location of the proposed Park & Ride site in relation to the M621 motorway, Middleton Road and Hunslet Cemetery. The new bus lane along Wakefield Road (A61 South) will stretch from beyond the  bridge under the M621 to the roundabout at Junction 7 and deliver significant journey time savings to existing bus services between Wakefield and Leeds.

Artist's impression

The below artist’s impression shows what the proposed Park & Ride could look like. Extensive landscaping will screen both the site and the motorway from surrounding areas. Solar panel ‘carports’ are shown for illustrative purposes only. The design and exact location of the panels will be determined at a later date, should the project be granted planning permission and the application to fund the solar panels be successful.

Buses will enter and exit the site on a new bus-only road helping ensure buses arrive and depart on time. Arranging the spaces in a circular layout helps reduce the walking distance between each parking space and the stop/waiting room.

A raised bank and extensive planting with evergreen trees will screen the Park & Ride site and the motorway from Hunslet Cemetery and surrounding residential areas.