What you told us

What you told us

Thank you to everyone who took the time to provide feedback on our proposals to improve the way you get around the city centre. The consultation ran from 9 October to 19 November 2023 and focused on transformations to the north and south of the city centre. 

We received 2,181 responses to the consultation which included feedback from a diverse range of people that live, work in, visit or travel through the city centre.  

The development of the scheme factors in feedback from the public, stakeholders and the Connecting Leeds Transport Strategy, where everyone has an affordable and accessible zero carbon choice in how they travel.  

Some changes to the scheme have been made following responses received from the public, stakeholders, key partners like Active Travel England and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, and a Road Safety Audit which ensures designs are safe for all road users.  

The main findings can be found using the links below or by clicking the ‘next’ button.  

• Summary
• Section 1: Great George Street
• Section 2: Merrion Street
• Section 3: Kirkgate, Wharf Street, High Court and The Calls  
• Section 4: Call Lane, Swinegate, Concordia Street and Sovereign Street   
• Section 5: Additional safety proposals for people walking, wheeling or cycling
• Changes to design following feedback

Summary

The findings of the consultation showed that more people would like to cycle to get around the city centre. Overall, 58% of respondents felt positive towards the new cycle track and 64% felt positive towards new crossing arrangements. 58% of respondents supported the proposals throughout the scheme.

What is your connection to the city centre? (multiple choice)

How do you currently travel in the city centre? (multiple choice)How would you like to travel in the city centre? (multiple choice)

How do you feel about proposals for new crossing arrangements? (throughout the scheme)

How do you feel about proposals for new protected cycle track? (throughout the scheme)

How do you feel about proposals overall?

Section 1: Great George Street

Great George Street 'Grid A':

The proposals in this section are: 

• Pavement widening on parts of Great George Street, creating the potential for street café licensing and new greenery, like trees and shrubs 

• New pedestrian crossings to allow pedestrians to safely cross the road and cycle track   

• Continuous protected two-way cycle track from the footbridge on Great George Street   

• New cycle crossings to allow cycle users to safely cross the road at key junctions   

• Relocation of taxi rank from Great George Street to Thoresby Place, closer to the hospital entrance   

• Removal of some pay and display parking on Great George Street, but alternative on-street parking opportunities are retained nearby on Thoresby Place, Oxford Row, Portland Street and Leighton Street 

How do you feel about the individual proposals in 'Grid A'?

Overall, how do you feel about proposals in 'Grid A'?

How do you think proposals impact the following?

Great George Street 'Grid B':

The proposals in this section are:  

• Pavement widening around key junctions  

• Continuous protected two-way cycle track  

• New pedestrian crossings to allow pedestrians to safely cross the road and cycle track    

• New cycle crossings to allow cycle users to safely cross the road at key junctions    

• Great George Street to become one-way westbound between Oxford Place and Park Street   

• Park Street to become one-way southbound 

How do you feel about the individual proposals in 'Grid B'?

Overall, how do you feel about proposals in 'Grid B'?

How do you think proposals impact the following?

Section 2: Merrion Street

The proposals in this section are:

• Pavement widening around key junctions  

• Changes to pedestrian crossing arrangements to make crossing the road at key places shorter and more direct  

• Continuous protected two-way cycle track running from Merrion Street to the footbridge on Great George Street, and connecting with the existing cycle infrastructure on New Briggate    

• New cycle crossings to allow cycle users to safely cross the road at key junctions   

• Reduction in the number of road lanes on Merrion Street to one lane to provide more space for pedestrians and cycle users (the reduction to one lane has been in place, east of Wade Lane, on a temporary basis since September 2021)   

• Opportunities for new greenery, like trees and shrubs  

• Right-turn only from Cookridge Street to Great George Street to provide space for a new pedestrian crossing 

• 'Merrion A’ northbound bus stop removed, and relocated to alternative stop nearby (Albion Street or Woodhouse Lane) *this is a low frequency bus stop, with two buses per hour 

How do you feel about the individual proposals on Merrion Street?

Overall, how do you feel about proposals on Merrion Street?

How do you think proposals impact the following?

Section 3: Kirkgate, Wharf Street, High Court and The Calls

The proposals in this section are: 

• Continuous protected two-way cycle track running from Kirkgate and along High Court and The Calls, connecting with the existing and planned cycle infrastructure on Kirkgate and Sovereign Street 

• New crossing arrangements allowing pedestrians to safely cross the road and the cycle track  

• Permanent reduction in number of road lanes from two lanes to one, making space for safer pedestrian and cycling infrastructure (the reduction to one lane has already been in place on a temporary basis since September 2022)    

 
How do you feel about the individual proposals on Kirkgate, High Court and The Calls?  

Overall, how do you feel about proposals on Kirkgate, High Court and The Calls?  

How do you think proposals impact the following?

Section 4: Call Lane, Swinegate, Concordia Street and Sovereign Street

The proposals in this section are: 

• Continuous protected two-way cycle track running along Call Lane and Swinegate and connecting with the cycle infrastructure on Sovereign Street 

• New pedestrian crossings to allow pedestrians to safely cross the cycle track   

• Permanent reduction in number of road lanes from two lanes to one, making space for safer pedestrian and cycling infrastructure (the reduction to one lane has been in place on a temporary basis since September 2022)  

How do you feel about the individual proposals on Call Lane, Swinegate, Concordia Street and Sovereign Street? 

Overall, what do you think of the proposals on Call Lane, Swinegate, Concordia Street and Sovereign Street?  

How do you think proposals impact the following?  

Section 5: Additional safety measures for people walking, wheeling and cycling

Proposals in this section are: 

• Remove pedestrian guard railings on the Woodhouse Lane, Albion Street, Merrion Street and Great George Street junction to create space for new pedestrian crossings  

• Remove the planter on the Woodhouse Lane, Albion Street, Merrion Street and Great George Street junction to create space for new pedestrian crossings and opportunities for new greenery   

• Remove pedestrian guard railings around the Calverley Street and Great George Street junction to create space for a new pedestrian crossing and opportunities for new greenery   

• Remove the planter on Kirkgate to create space for a new pedestrian crossing and opportunities for new greenery  

• New benches and cycle stands on Merrion Street, Great George Street, Swinegate and Kirkgate 

How do you feel about the individual proposals for additional safety measures for people walking, wheeling and cycling?

Overall, what do you think of the proposals for additional safety measures for people walking, wheeling and cycling? 

How do you think proposals impact the following?

Changes to design following feedback

There have been some changes to the scheme in response to feedback from the public, stakeholders, key partners like Active Travel England and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, and a Road Safety Audit. 

These changes aim to make the area safer for everyone, avoid congestion, and make it easier to get around in greener and healthier ways. 

Great George Street ‘Grid A’: 

Relocation of the taxi rank on Thoresby Place: 

Proposals included relocating the existing taxi rank to Thoresby Place, closer to the hospital entrance at the top of that street. In response to feedback that the new taxi rank should be as visible as possible for taxi users, the new rank will be relocated towards the bottom of Thoreseby Place nearer Great George Street. 

Pedestrian crossings on Great George Street (between Park Street and Oxford Street):  

Feedback highlighted that it can be difficult to cross the road on Great George Street between Park Street and Oxford Street, and that crossing facilities should be accessible to all users. 

In response to this feedback, several new uncontrolled crossings with dropped kerbs will be installed along this part of the route. 

Great George Street junction (from Oxford Place): 

The number of lanes on Oxford Place (at the Great George Street Junction) will be reduced from two lanes to one lane. This is to make the road safer for cycle users and pedestrians. Routes to key locations will still be available. 

Great George Street ‘Grid B’: 

Calverley Street (Great George Street junction): 

The right turn from Calverley Street to Great George Street will be prohibited, meaning motorists exiting the southern end of Calverley Street (at the Great George Street junction) will need to continue ahead to Calverley Street. This is to make the road safer for cycle users and pedestrians. Alternative routes will remain available for accessing/ exiting premises in the area. 

Merrion Street: 

Cookridge Street (Great George Street junction): 

Following feedback, there will be changes to the cycle and pedestrian crossings to make the junction safer for all road users. 

Cookridge Street loading/ parking bay: 

The bay on the east side of Cookridge Street will be retained for loading between 5am-10am and for blue badge parking between 10am-5am. This is in response to feedback that loading should be retained and the importance of blue badge parking in the area. 

Pedestrian crossing arrangements (throughout the scheme): 

Pedestrian crossings on Oxford Place, Portland Street, Calverley Street, Great George, Woodhouse Lane, Merrion Street, Wade Street, High Court, Kirkgate, Sovereign Street and Concordia Street will become zebra crossings. This is in response to feedback that crossings should be more responsive and pedestrian-friendly and changes to traffic flow in the area.