Frequently asked questions

Background 

What has happened since the 2019 consultation on the proposed A65-A658 Link Route? 

Between February and April 2019 Leeds City Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority consulted on proposals to improve highway connectivity in the area, including three options for a A65 – A658 Link Route.

Feedback from the consultation demonstrated no clear support for any of the three options. Since the 2019 consultation was carried out, Leeds City Council has also declared a Climate Emergency committing the city to becoming carbon neutral by 2030.

In listening to feedback and the city’s ambitions, the Link Route options have been discontinued and new proposals have been designed responding to the need to provide sustainable transport options in this area. The revised approach was agreed at Leeds City Council’s Executive Board in January 2020.

The Proposals 

What are the specific proposals being consulted on?

This project focusses on improvements to support better connections for public transport and active travel between the proposed Parkway Rail Station (on the existing Leeds-Harrogate line with access from Scotland Lane), proposed North West Leeds Employment Hub (just north of Whitehouse Lane), Leeds Bradford Airport and surrounding communities.

The specific proposals we are looking to consult on are:

• Localised widening of Scotland Lane to provide shuttle bus access and segregated walking and cycling provision
• Junction improvement at Whitehouse Lane / Scotland Lane
• Active travel (walking and cycling) provision on Whitehouse Lane
• New junction on Whitehouse Lane and ‘stub’ road into the proposed employment hub.

 Leeds City Council is also looking inform stakeholders and the public of future potential phases of this connectivity project, and to obtain early feedback on potential interventions on Scotland Lane (south of the proposed station access road) and Dean Lane.

What are the benefits of the proposals?

The primary aims of this project are:

• Providing improved public transport and active travel links;
• Focus on unlocking investment and inclusive growth opportunities – economic benefits locally and across the wider region;
• Improve local connectivity and facilitate a step change in travel behaviour to more sustainable transport modes

How do the revised proposals support the city’s drive to Net Zero?

The revised proposals will help to deliver on the Climate Emergency commitments made by Leeds City Council and support the city’s drive to Net Zero by encouraging a shift in transport modes providing more options for public transport, cycling and walking. This project supports Leeds City Council’s Connecting Leeds Transport Strategy target to increase cycling trips by 400% by 2030.  

Net zero is a target of completely negating the amount of greenhouse gases produced by human activity. This is to be achieved in part by reducing emissions (i.e., shifting transport modes from driving to cycling).

What provision is there for cyclists? 

Segregated walking and cycling provision is proposed for Scotland Lane and Whitehouse Lane with the intention of encouraging more active travel.

Is there a risk this scheme will encourage increased traffic for the local road network? 

The current proposals aim to promote a mode shift towards increased active travel through the local area. However, we acknowledge your concerns and are seeking views from the community during this engagement exercise on possible future interventions.

Will there be additional street lighting?

Street lighting and furniture will be considered during detailed design. Safety is paramount and the team will ensure all proposals meet relevant safety standards.

Will the speed limit of the roads change after the changes are made?

No. There is no plan to change the current speed limit.

What will be the frequency of the proposed shuttle bus service?

Work is ongoing in regard to the operating model to deliver the most appropriate services that meet the needs of passengers.

What type of buses will be used?

Work is ongoing to identify the most effective mode of transport.

Why are these proposals promoting access to the airport when Leeds City Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority have declared a climate emergency?

Tackling the climate emergency is one of the Combined Authority’s top priorities and decarbonising the transport sector is essential to achieving this. Current access to Leeds Bradford Airport is not to the required standard, and these plans will help to ensure that people are able to travel there in a more sustainable way.

Funding

How is this scheme being funded?

There is a £70m allocation from within the West Yorkshire Transport Fund (shared allocation for proposed Parkway Station and connectivity package). These early phases of the connectivity package (with the exception of active travel provision along Whitehouse Lane) together with the Parkway Rail Station proposal, formed the North West Leeds Levelling Up Fund bid submitted by Leeds City Council earlier this year. This bid sought £20m from the Levelling up Fund.

At the present time, no decision has been made by central government on the bid.

Further development and implementation of the scheme will be subject to the availability of funding, assurance processes of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, the viability of the business case and the relevant statutory and rail industry approvals. The project is subject to approval at a number of stages prior to the start of construction to ensure the scheme continues to show value for money.

Neighbouring schemes 

What is the current status of the North West Leeds Employment Hub (NWLEH)?

The North West Leeds Employment Hub is a 32.63 ha employment site located adjacent to Leeds Bradford Airport and is owned by the five West Yorkshire districts. The site is recognised as a ‘spatial priority area’ within the Leeds City Region Strategic Economic Plan and was adopted within the Site Allocation Plan in July 2019 for: Research & Development, Light Industrial, General Industrial and Storage and Distribution.

While the Employment Hub has been allocated in the adopted Site Allocations Plan, planning permission still needs to be obtained for the development of the site. The Site Allocation Plan also requires that a Development Brief is prepared for the site to ensure its comprehensive delivery. This Development Brief would be subject to future public consultation and engagement.

The site requires a new access road from Whitehouse Lane in order to facilitate development, economic growth and regeneration. This is part of the Scotland Lane and Whitehouse Lane Sustainable Transport Improvements consultation.

The employment hub was first consulted on in 2015 as part of an extensive consultation process prior to the publication of the Site Allocation Plan.

What is the current status of the proposed Parkway Rail Station?

The Parkway Station is currently in the design phase and working towards a Full Business Case. This is due to be completed and submitted in early 2023. Planning consent will be sought thereafter with the delivery phase due to start in 2024. Two rounds of public consultation and engagement have been carried out in 2019 and 2021.

The currently proposed rail station on the Leeds to Harrogate Line will have access onto Scotland Lane. The station will provide improved public transport option for users of the employment hub and airport and will act as a key node in the Leeds park and ride network, intercepting trips and taking them off congested arterial routes into the city centre.

The widening of Scotland Lane is required to provide a shuttle bus access to the Parkway Station and to provide improved walking and cycling links.

Does Leeds Bradford Airport still plan to expand?

Plans for a new terminal are no longer progressing but the Airport still has ambitions to expand its passenger numbers. Leeds City Council want to ensure employees and passengers have sustainable travel options to and from the airport, and that wider impacts on the transport network and local communities are effectively managed.

Engagement and consultation 

Who is delivering the scheme? 

This scheme is being delivered by Leeds City Council in partnership with West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

What type of consultation exercise is this?

Leeds City Council is seeking feedback to inform the development of a Business Case to seek funding to progress the scheme development and delivery. This is a non-statutory consultation.

Who is being consulted?

This engagement exercise seeks to consult with all stakeholders who may have an interest in, or be impacted by the proposals. This includes: 

• Landowners
• Local residents and businesses
• Local elected members
• Seldom heard groups and local interest groups
• Community outreach supported by Leeds Involving People
• Statutory consultees including key technical officers at Leeds City Council representing highways and planning
• West Yorkshire Combined Authority

What will happen to my feedback?

Feedback gathered from this consultation will be taken into consideration and will inform the development of more detailed proposals.

Will there be any more opportunities to provide feedback?

The scheme is at an early stage of development. There will be further opportunities to provide feedback and input as the scheme develops.

Timescales

When does the consultation period end?

The deadline for submitting feedback is midnight on Sunday 18 December 2022.

What are the next steps?

Feedback gathered from this consultation will be taken into consideration and will inform the development of more detailed proposals. A consultation outcome report summarising the feedback will be made available early in 2023.

When might construction commence and how long will the works take to complete?

The project is subject to approval at a number of stages prior to the start of construction to ensure the scheme

continues to show value for money. If successful through the various approval stages, it is anticipated construction may begin Autumn 2024 and complete in Spring 2025.

How do your plans impact local green spaces and trees?

We will have a better understanding of the scheme’s impact on local green spaces and trees following further studies undertaken as part of the detailed design stage of the project. However, where we are aware of an impact on local green space, we are committed to providing replacement green space as close to the removed sections as possible.

How will construction work impact journey times? How will disruption be managed? 

Due to the nature of the construction work needed to build the scheme, unfortunately some localised disruption is inevitable. However, we will aim to minimise this by coordinating with other projects planned in the area and communicating details with residents and road users well in advance, so that people can plan their journeys accordingly.

As part of the construction preparation, a communications plan will be produced to outline how potential impacts will be communicated to the public.