DEVELOPMENT TEAM APPOINTED FOR LEEDS STATION PROJECT
18th Oct 2016 Yorkshire
A consortium of experts including the lead architect behind the redevelopment of King's Cross Station in London has been appointed to the Leeds Station remodelling project, a scheme expected to help create thousands of jobs.
The Atkins consortium, made up of a group of design, engineering and project management consultants, has been awarded a contract to develop the masterplan which will guide the revamp of Leeds Station into a modern destination and integrated national transport hub.
The group includes Hiro Aso, Gensler head of transport and infrastructure, who was the lead programme architect on the award-winning revamp of King's Cross.
Leeds City Council and partners hope Leeds Station can become a key national landmark and transport interchange featuring high-speed rail, as well as being a pivotal regeneration and economic driver and asset for the city and region. The redevelopment of the station is expected to create approximately 13,000 jobs in Leeds.
The station is used by more than 100,000 passengers a day, with those numbers forecast to more than double over the next 30 years reaching a level similar to Gatwick Airport.
The Atkins consortium is made up of industry specialists Atkins, Gensler, Bilfinger GVA, Faithful + Gould, Albion Economics and BAM Construction.
Leeds City Council leader Judith Blake said: "We are delighted to be able to announce the Atkins consortium as our partners in developing the exciting masterplan for Leeds Station, which we want to be a statement of our ambition and determination as a city and region to create a distinctive world-class modern transport hub, economic driver and attractive venue and destination in its own right.
Major transport schemes the companies have worked on include King's Cross Station as well developments at Euston Station, Birmingham New Street, Bond Street Station and Crossrail as well as projects connected to Heathrow Airport, Glasgow Airport, Wembley Stadium, Twickenham and The Shard. They were also part of the design team which created the venues and visitor facilities for the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.
For Leeds Station, also now referred to as the Yorkshire Hub, the group is tasked with developing the current masterplan into a blueprint to guide all improvements in the short, medium and longer terms. This includes how to incorporate high speed rail services from HS2 and the proposed Northern Powerhouse Rail sometimes known as HS3 together with national, regional and local transport services in a user-friendly single hub station promoting all forms of connectivity.
Improved access for cars, taxis, buses, public transport, cycling and walking will also be part of the plans, along with examining options for a common concourse offering easy access between high-speed rail and other services.
In addition they will work on adding further detail as to how to maximise the commercial opportunities offered by the redevelopment of the station for the city and region, as well as it being an attractive and welcoming focal point, destination and gateway to the rest of the city centre and beyond.
An updated station masterplan featuring the work by the Atkins consortium is likely to be completed by next summer.
Liam Harrison, Atkins market director for stations and transport oriented development, added: "Our team will be a true partnership, combining each company's unique expertise to deliver an integrated masterplan that will create a real and positive impact on Leeds as a city and as a key hub in the Northern Powerhouse.
"By integrating the new HS2 station into Leeds' existing mainline station and the surrounding area, well help create a 21st century station - a fantastic space to travel, live and work.
West Yorkshire Combined Authority transport committee chairman councillor Keith Wakefield said: "With HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail and train travel having such an important role to play in achieving the aims of our Strategic Economic Plan, Leeds Station will become a true transport hub for the city, the city region and the north as a whole.
"Having an integrated station at the heart of the city centre, providing an impressive gateway to Leeds, West Yorkshire and the City Region will transform travel for business and leisure travellers alike and I look forward to seeing the plans for the stations future come to life."
A new senior leadership group has also been created to help guide the station redevelopment planning. Chaired by Network Rail's chief financial officer Jeremy Westlake, the group will provide guidance on the viability of the proposals put forward
