Changes to £11m Harrogate Station Gateway shared with public
North Yorkshire Council has revised plans as it looks to clear a final regulatory hurdle and put Transforming Cities Fund support to work this year.
Changes to the town centre project, part of a £44.6m North Yorkshire programme backed by the Transforming Cities Fund, have been shared with the public as part of the statutory process.
The £11m TCF project aims to boost access to Harrogate’s rail and bus stations and deliver improvements to nearby public spaces.
Under the latest proposals, the project would see One Arch and Station Square transformed with new paving, trees, planting and lighting.
Plans also include improvements for pedestrians, a short southbound cycle lane on Station Parade and a new bus lane to access the station.
There will be additional cycle parking, including covered parking close to the bus and railway stations, greater use of high-quality materials, such as Yorkshire stone paving, and feature lighting.
The scheme maintains taxi ranks in Station Parade and prioritises disabled parking.
North Yorkshire’s wider programme will also cover a series of improvements in Selby and Skipton.
NYC has published new visuals to represent the revised scheme, which was agreed by its executive in November 2023.
Cllr Keane Duncan, executive member for highways and transport, said: “We have listened to public views and worked extensively on a cross-party basis with local councillors to revise the Gateway plan.
“The original scheme has been reviewed following this feedback, with Station Parade remaining open to two lanes of traffic and with no pedestrianisation of James Street.
“It represents a proposal that is deliverable and with significant benefits for all transport users: motorists, cyclists, public transport passengers and pedestrians.”
The council has consulted at various stages over the last few years on the gateway project. A legal challenge from a commercial landlord saw plans for part-pedestrianisation of one area changed.
NYC said in February that is was aiming to start later this year.
Cllr Duncan added: “The scheme hopes to deliver high-quality public realm improvements to transform this key area of the town centre.
“Meanwhile, we will use innovative technology to improve the flow of traffic in this congested corridor. It means that the many crossings and traffic lights will be improved and coordinated.”
The advertisement of the TRO is one of the last stages before work on the scheme can begin.
Following its completion, the scheme will need formal sign off from the Department for Transport (DfT) and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority before work can begin in the autumn.
Once work has started, it is expected to be completed by the spring of 2026.
Transforming Cities Fund is a major programme of transport infrastructure investment covering Leeds City Region, including Harrogate, Selby and Skipton.
These towns were part of a bid for funding from the DfT and WYCA, pre-dating York and North Yorkshire’s own combined authority.
Skipton and Selby’s schemes in Selby and Skipton are also scheduled to start this year.
Full details of the Harrogate TRO process can be viewed online.
‘Gateway’
By Danny Crump
Harrogaters hate cyclists only slightly more than they hate pedestrians, it’s a car town
By Anonymous
All good,but what about the train station facade which is owned by National Rail,grey, peeling, terrible view for day trippers, locals etc, Idea, Harrogate gardens,dates, conference centre attractions etc,needs to utilised,great money maker
By Darren pedel
This is an appalling waste of money and dangerous – two way bike lanes on a one way street? – accident waiting to happen coming out of the station. And reducing two lanes down to one thereby increasing stationary traffic at busy times – rush hour and weekends – bad for the environment. Never mind the disruption to the business that are there. Pointless.
By Anonymous