A £1bn masterplan for a “Yorkshire hub” HS2 station in Leeds is at the heart of a vision to double the size of the city centre.
Leeds City Council unveiled its draft masterplan for the station this week ahead of a formal submission of its HS2 growth strategy to government in November. Proposals include the potential for 3m sq ft of commercial development in the campus, which could include more than 1.5m sq ft of offices, several hundred sq ft of shops, 650 flats and a 200-bedroom hotel.
Located on the site of the existing station on New Station Street at the southern edge of the city centre, the new hub is hoped to act as a catalyst for the regeneration of the adjacent South Bank district. The council has designated the area for the delivery of more than 4,000 homes and 8m sq ft of commercial space as part of a long-term plan to double the size of the city centre, with the new gateway station in the middle.
“This is one of the most important aspects of Leeds regenerating itself, really transforming the city centre,” said Judith Blake, leader of Leeds City Council. “We are talking about transforming the station to the scale of something like Gatwick Airport at the moment.”
The design includes the pedestrianisation of New Station Street, with the current station entrance moved to Bishopsgate Street. Four further entrances are proposed in South Bank – at Sovereign Square, linking to the new city park; a central entrance along a new pedestrian route in South Bank connecting Temple Works through to Leeds Dock; an entrance link alongside the River Aire; and an entrance at the southern part of the station. The River Aire is proposed to be a central space in the station district, with proposals to repurpose the Dark Arches and Neville Street as retail and leisure spaces.
“The station is the subordinate element which is supporting the wider agenda,” said Hiro Aso, aviation and transport practice leader at architect Gensler, which has created the initial designs for the scheme. “The design is not about creating a gesture of sculpture. It is absolutely about supporting economic growth.”
Blake said the HS2 terminus is already attracting more interest from potential office occupiers in the city. “The proximity of so much opportunity immediately next to the station is a major factor when we are talking about companies relocating and investing in the city,” she said.
Jamie Kerr, managing director at HS2 Growth Partnership, which is supporting the masterplan delivery, said a developer partnership similar to that of Argent at King’s Cross was being considered. However, a procurement process will not be launched until after 2022/23, after royal assent for phase 2b of HS2 is granted.
If the strategy secures the support of central government, the New Street Station and Bishopsgate Street improvements could be completed by 2023, supporting Leeds’ bid to be European Capital of Culture in that year.
In west Yorkshire, York and Sheffield are also planning redevelopment sparked by the arrival of HS2. “In Sheffield, they are very keen to replicated what Leeds’ is doing, so that is where a lot of the team might focus their attention,” said Kerr.
York is preparing to bring forward development opportunities on a major brownfield site next to York Central station. The site could support up to 2,500 homes and 1m sq ft of commercial space.
£1bn Leeds station district timescale
The remodelling work on, around and connected to Leeds station will take place in stages over an estimated 25 years, with the three main elements being the existing station, high-speed rail infrastructure and the surrounding streets and urban realm. Initial works would see the New Station Street and Bishopsgate Street elements completed by 2023. Works to the current station would aim to be completed in anticipation of HS2 services arriving in Leeds in 2033.
North calls for more transport investment
Leeds’ proposals come as Northern politicians and businesses are demanding more powers and funding for transport in the region. Last week, the UK’s metro mayors joined forces to call for greater infrastructure investment at the launch of the National Infrastructure Commission’s first draft national infrastructure assessment.
Transport for North is preparing detailed demands for government on its expectations about High Speed 3, an east-west rail link which would connect Leeds and Manchester. “There is huge excitement about the vision that we have,” Judith Blake, leader of Leeds City Council. “And we are expecting government to respond positively and fully understand the enormous potential for delivering for the economy of the country if we get this investment ready in time.”
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