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Kirkstall Forge Update
Rachel has written to Justine Greening MP, the new Secretary of State for Transport, to emphasise the benefits of the plans for a new railway station in Kirkstall and to invite her to visit the site.
The site of Kirkstall Forge has planning permission to become a mixed use residential and business site which will create 2,400 jobs and include over 1,000 homes.
The station at the heart of the scheme is in the Department for Transport’s ‘Development Pool’, awaiting the green light for spending to be allocated.
Rachel said:
“I have campaigned about Kirkstall Forge station since before I was an MP, and it is crucial that Kirkstall Forge is on the agenda of the new Secretary of State for Transport. The Secretary of State will be making a decision in the next month on whether the Forge gets investment for a new railway station.
I will continue to emphasise how important the development is as an opportunity for creating over 2,000 jobs and building over 1,000 homes as well as improving public transport in West Leeds. That’s why I wrote to invite Justine Greening to meet with me, and tour the site to see its enormous potential.”
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Rachel's letter to Ms. Greening said:
I am writing to you in regards to a rail infrastructure project in Leeds West. I have corresponded with your predecessor about it wanted to make sure you were aware of the strength of feeling within the community about the project.
Kirkstall Forge Railway Station is a key part of the Leeds Rail Growth Package. It was placed in your Department’s ‘Development Pool’ of projects in October last year, recognising the value of the project but asking for further cost savings to be made.
The Developers have since increased their contribution to the project, and offered further savings to the public purse to the value of £7m since January. 40% of the funding will come from private sources and from the local transport authority.
The project has wide support within the city, across all political parties, and is strongly supported in the community as well. It has unanimous planning permission which was extended in August this year. The railway station will unlock the potential of a 65 acre brownfield site – with plans to build over 1,000 homes and create 2,400 jobs in a community that needs proactive investment.
In addition, it is important to emphasise that the station will improve public transport facilities in the west of the city. Presently, people overwhelmingly rely on their car to travel to Leeds city centre, and to Bradford. This station offers the promise of rapid journeys into the city centre, a sustainable alternative to car journeys. The station will serve the communities of Kirkstall, Bramley and Horsforth.
If you would like to tour the site or meet with residents, West Yorkshire Metro or the developer CEG I would be happy to facilitate this. I would also like to request a meeting with you to discuss the project. It is a fantastic site with huge potential. It is also deliverable, and will make a real difference to our area. It offers great value for money and a huge improvement to our outdated transport infrastructure. I urge you to support it in your new role as Secretary of State for Transport.
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