Harrogate Station Gateway

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Please note - this consultation has now closed.

To view the Outcome Report of this consultation (Round Two), please download it here.

To view the materials from the Round One consultation held between February and March 2021, please visit: www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/harrogateround1

Round Three information (20 July - 23 August 2022) can be found here: https://www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/harrogate


The information below was presented during the Round Two public consultation between 18 October and 12 November 2021:

Thank you for visiting our consultation pages. The second round public consultation exercises for the North Yorkshire Transforming Cities Fund projects will launch on Monday 18 October, and the full materials and questionnaire for Harrogate will be available on this webpage from 18 October until 12 November 2021.

We will be running online events to present the proposals on the following dates:

  • Thursday 21 October 6pm – 7pm: Harrogate Public Session 1
  • Thursday 28 October 6pm – 7pm: Harrogate Public Session 2

Please check back here on the day of your chosen session to access the meeting.

If you can't make these dates, a recording of the session will be made available on this webpage too.

***

Major improvements are being proposed for the area next to the train and bus station in Harrogate town centre. We want you to have your say.

Harrogate Borough Council, North Yorkshire County Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority are working together to deliver exciting changes which will benefit residents, businesses and visitors.

Between 18 October and 12 November, we are asking for your feedback on these latest proposals, which have been shaped following the public consultation in March earlier this year.

Your views are important to help us finalise the designs, so please take this opportunity to let us know what you think.

Step 1: Have a look at the proposals. These have been uploaded to the 'Please View: Our proposals' section, which can be found on the right hand side if you're using a computer, or further down your screen if you're viewing on a mobile phone.

Step 2: If you would like to hear more or put your questions to us directly, then join one of our live events listed below, or visit us in the Victoria Shopping Centre where you can speak to a member of the project team.

The team will be available in Unit 11 at Victoria Shopping Centre at the following times:

  • Wednesday 27 October 2021, 10am – 3pm
  • Friday 29 October 2021, 10am – 1pm
  • Friday 5 November 2021, 10am – 3pm

There are two online live events where you can listen to a presentation and ask questions:


Take a look at our ‘Flythrough’ video to help bring our proposals to life:




Step 3: Tell us what you think by completing the survey, which you can access by clicking the button below:


Contact us

If you have any other questions, or if you or someone you know requires this information in an alternative format, you can get in touch with us via:

Email: Transformingcities@northyorks.gov.uk

Telephone: 01609 780780 

Freepost:

Corporate Director

Central services

North Yorkshire County Council

County Hall

NORTHALLERTON

DL7 5AL


Background 

Harrogate Borough Council, North Yorkshire County Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority are working together to deliver an exciting £10.9m worth of improvements which will benefit residents, businesses and visitors alike.

Providing an accessible, attractive and cleaner alternative to car journeys is at the heart of Leeds City Region’s Transforming Cities Fund (TCF). £317 million TCF funding, plus local match funding, was secured as part of the West Yorkshire devolution deal to deliver a programme of transport infrastructure improvements across the Leeds City Region.

Building towards a sustainable future with a transport system fit for the 21st century is absolutely vital, not only as we look to help the region recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, but also in tackling climate change by helping us achieve our aim of becoming a net zero carbon economy by 2038.

Improving Harrogate

The existing public environment in the area surrounding Harrogate rail station can create an unwelcoming sense of arrival in the town. The current transport facilities make it difficult to travel between the rail station, bus station and rest of the town. In addition, only 0.5% of people arriving at Harrogate Rail Station do so by bike. The lack of walking and cycling infrastructure makes it difficult to access the station on foot or by bike, discouraging people from travelling in this way.

The scheme aims to dramatically improve the look and feel of the area and promote health, well-being and social interaction by creating a new destination space for visitors, residents and workers in Harrogate. We want to create a regionally significant transport Gateway for the town, with an outstanding public environment and high-quality, sustainable transport links.

We want to use this TCF funding to:

  • Improve sustainable transport infrastructure to support a shift towards more sustainable travel choices such as walking, cycling and using public transport
  • Support the regeneration of the Station Parade area of the town
  • Improve public health and wellbeing

We want to achieve the following objectives:

  • Improve the walking and cycling links to Harrogate bus and railway stations and the town centre
  • Increase the number of people traveling to or from Harrogate Station, and in and around Harrogate town centre, by environmentally friendly transport (bus, on foot and by bike)
  • Positively enhance the sense of place within the town centre and create a higher quality environment for visitors, residents and nature
  • Reduce the dominance of cars and lower traffic speeds to create a safer, more appealing environment for people walking and cycling. This will also decrease noise and pollution levels.
  • Enhance accessibility for people with disabilities by improving surfaces, reducing obstacles and providing more room
  • Create an environment that promotes social interaction and encourages people to stay and spend time here, through street furniture, smart technology and space for events/activities
  • Enhance and promote the identity of Harrogate – harnessing its spa history and strong existing sense of place to create an iconic and lasting gateway

Our scheme development journey

In 2019, we undertook a study into a new inner relief road within Harrogate. The public feedback did not support this approach to changing Harrogate’s transport network. Instead, there was greater support for implementing more sustainable transport measures, including better provision for walking and cycling, and improved public transport access.

Building on this outcome, we have been developing proposals, through the TCF programme, for improving walking and cycling access to rail and bus services and reducing general traffic within the town centre.

The scheme will create walking and cycling linkages in the heart of the town which will form part of the expanding network within Harrogate aimed at improving options for sustainable travel. It will link with proposed cycle lanes on Victoria Avenue and the Beech Grove Low Traffic Neighbourhood which are the subject of separate consultation exercises, ultimately helping to deliver our Local Cycling and Walking Improvement Plan for Harrogate.

You Said, We Did

We undertook a public consultation in February - March 2021 which presented design options for proposals that focused on Station Parade and adjoining streets. The public feedback received through this process has been used to inform the updated designs for the scheme in the following ways:

  • Station Parade - The strongest support was for progressing the ‘One-Lane option’ for Station Parade. This includes a reallocation of highway space to allow a new protected cycleway and footway improvements to be introduced on Station Parade. This option has now been progressed in an updated form into our current designs
  • Northern section of Station Parade – The strongest support was for making the street one-way (southbound) for vehicles and remove some on street parking to create safe space for cycling and better priority for buses. This option has now been progressed in an updated form into our current designs
  • One Arch underpass – There was majority support for our proposals to improve the One Arch underpass. We received some concerns regarding the use of the underpass by both people who walk and people who cycle. We have therefore updated our proposals to improve visibility and reduce the potential for conflicts
  • Station Square – There was majority support for our proposals to improve Station Square. We received some concerns regarding the maintenance of the proposed water feature. We are currently working with a specialist water fountain contractor to ensure that all maintenance requirements are fully understood and costed
  • Victoria Monument – We received a mixed response to the potential of relocating the Victoria Monument. We are therefore continuing to propose that the monument remains in its current location and it is incorporated into our updated design
  • James Street (east) - the section from Princes Street to Station Parade – We presented three different options for how James Street could look in the future. We received strongest support for the full pedestrianisation option. The option to retain unrestricted vehicle access was the second most popular. The least popular option was part-time pedestrianisation. The most cited reasons for supporting the full pedestrianisation options were that it would look and feel better and safer and create more spaces for trees and green features

Progressing the full pedestrianisation option has the potential to significantly delay the delivery of the scheme due to the process required to gain statutory approval; this could result in funding being withdrawn if timescales extend too far. As such, full pedestrianisation is not considered viable at this time. We have therefore decided to progress with a part-time pedestrianisation proposal which restricts vehicle access to 'loading only' and at limited times. This option will include many of the changes to the look of James Street (east) that were included in the full pedestrianisation option. The potential to make James Street (east) fully pedestrianised in the future would remain an option, with minimal additional changes to the look of the street.

Want to Know More?

On this webpage you will find information including plans to help you understand what is proposed and where, and visualisations to bring our plans to life. We have also provided answers to some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

If you have questions about the scheme which are not covered by the information provided here, you can submit your question via the ‘Questions’ tab (below).

Next Steps  

Following the close of the public consultation on Friday 12 November, all feedback will be considered as the designs evolve. The designs will be finalised by the end of 2021 ahead of a final decision on implementation of the scheme. It is anticipated that construction of the scheme will begin in spring 2022 for approximately 12 months. The detailed planning of the construction phase will be taking place following this consultation. We will aim to ensure all roads remain open to traffic at all times, and noise and other disturbance from the works will be minimised. We will be engaging further with residents and businesses later in the year with more detailed plans.

Please note - this consultation has now closed.

To view the Outcome Report of this consultation (Round Two), please download it here.

To view the materials from the Round One consultation held between February and March 2021, please visit: www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/harrogateround1

Round Three information (20 July - 23 August 2022) can be found here: https://www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/harrogate


The information below was presented during the Round Two public consultation between 18 October and 12 November 2021:

Thank you for visiting our consultation pages. The second round public consultation exercises for the North Yorkshire Transforming Cities Fund projects will launch on Monday 18 October, and the full materials and questionnaire for Harrogate will be available on this webpage from 18 October until 12 November 2021.

We will be running online events to present the proposals on the following dates:

  • Thursday 21 October 6pm – 7pm: Harrogate Public Session 1
  • Thursday 28 October 6pm – 7pm: Harrogate Public Session 2

Please check back here on the day of your chosen session to access the meeting.

If you can't make these dates, a recording of the session will be made available on this webpage too.

***

Major improvements are being proposed for the area next to the train and bus station in Harrogate town centre. We want you to have your say.

Harrogate Borough Council, North Yorkshire County Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority are working together to deliver exciting changes which will benefit residents, businesses and visitors.

Between 18 October and 12 November, we are asking for your feedback on these latest proposals, which have been shaped following the public consultation in March earlier this year.

Your views are important to help us finalise the designs, so please take this opportunity to let us know what you think.

Step 1: Have a look at the proposals. These have been uploaded to the 'Please View: Our proposals' section, which can be found on the right hand side if you're using a computer, or further down your screen if you're viewing on a mobile phone.

Step 2: If you would like to hear more or put your questions to us directly, then join one of our live events listed below, or visit us in the Victoria Shopping Centre where you can speak to a member of the project team.

The team will be available in Unit 11 at Victoria Shopping Centre at the following times:

  • Wednesday 27 October 2021, 10am – 3pm
  • Friday 29 October 2021, 10am – 1pm
  • Friday 5 November 2021, 10am – 3pm

There are two online live events where you can listen to a presentation and ask questions:


Take a look at our ‘Flythrough’ video to help bring our proposals to life:




Step 3: Tell us what you think by completing the survey, which you can access by clicking the button below:


Contact us

If you have any other questions, or if you or someone you know requires this information in an alternative format, you can get in touch with us via:

Email: Transformingcities@northyorks.gov.uk

Telephone: 01609 780780 

Freepost:

Corporate Director

Central services

North Yorkshire County Council

County Hall

NORTHALLERTON

DL7 5AL


Background 

Harrogate Borough Council, North Yorkshire County Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority are working together to deliver an exciting £10.9m worth of improvements which will benefit residents, businesses and visitors alike.

Providing an accessible, attractive and cleaner alternative to car journeys is at the heart of Leeds City Region’s Transforming Cities Fund (TCF). £317 million TCF funding, plus local match funding, was secured as part of the West Yorkshire devolution deal to deliver a programme of transport infrastructure improvements across the Leeds City Region.

Building towards a sustainable future with a transport system fit for the 21st century is absolutely vital, not only as we look to help the region recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, but also in tackling climate change by helping us achieve our aim of becoming a net zero carbon economy by 2038.

Improving Harrogate

The existing public environment in the area surrounding Harrogate rail station can create an unwelcoming sense of arrival in the town. The current transport facilities make it difficult to travel between the rail station, bus station and rest of the town. In addition, only 0.5% of people arriving at Harrogate Rail Station do so by bike. The lack of walking and cycling infrastructure makes it difficult to access the station on foot or by bike, discouraging people from travelling in this way.

The scheme aims to dramatically improve the look and feel of the area and promote health, well-being and social interaction by creating a new destination space for visitors, residents and workers in Harrogate. We want to create a regionally significant transport Gateway for the town, with an outstanding public environment and high-quality, sustainable transport links.

We want to use this TCF funding to:

  • Improve sustainable transport infrastructure to support a shift towards more sustainable travel choices such as walking, cycling and using public transport
  • Support the regeneration of the Station Parade area of the town
  • Improve public health and wellbeing

We want to achieve the following objectives:

  • Improve the walking and cycling links to Harrogate bus and railway stations and the town centre
  • Increase the number of people traveling to or from Harrogate Station, and in and around Harrogate town centre, by environmentally friendly transport (bus, on foot and by bike)
  • Positively enhance the sense of place within the town centre and create a higher quality environment for visitors, residents and nature
  • Reduce the dominance of cars and lower traffic speeds to create a safer, more appealing environment for people walking and cycling. This will also decrease noise and pollution levels.
  • Enhance accessibility for people with disabilities by improving surfaces, reducing obstacles and providing more room
  • Create an environment that promotes social interaction and encourages people to stay and spend time here, through street furniture, smart technology and space for events/activities
  • Enhance and promote the identity of Harrogate – harnessing its spa history and strong existing sense of place to create an iconic and lasting gateway

Our scheme development journey

In 2019, we undertook a study into a new inner relief road within Harrogate. The public feedback did not support this approach to changing Harrogate’s transport network. Instead, there was greater support for implementing more sustainable transport measures, including better provision for walking and cycling, and improved public transport access.

Building on this outcome, we have been developing proposals, through the TCF programme, for improving walking and cycling access to rail and bus services and reducing general traffic within the town centre.

The scheme will create walking and cycling linkages in the heart of the town which will form part of the expanding network within Harrogate aimed at improving options for sustainable travel. It will link with proposed cycle lanes on Victoria Avenue and the Beech Grove Low Traffic Neighbourhood which are the subject of separate consultation exercises, ultimately helping to deliver our Local Cycling and Walking Improvement Plan for Harrogate.

You Said, We Did

We undertook a public consultation in February - March 2021 which presented design options for proposals that focused on Station Parade and adjoining streets. The public feedback received through this process has been used to inform the updated designs for the scheme in the following ways:

  • Station Parade - The strongest support was for progressing the ‘One-Lane option’ for Station Parade. This includes a reallocation of highway space to allow a new protected cycleway and footway improvements to be introduced on Station Parade. This option has now been progressed in an updated form into our current designs
  • Northern section of Station Parade – The strongest support was for making the street one-way (southbound) for vehicles and remove some on street parking to create safe space for cycling and better priority for buses. This option has now been progressed in an updated form into our current designs
  • One Arch underpass – There was majority support for our proposals to improve the One Arch underpass. We received some concerns regarding the use of the underpass by both people who walk and people who cycle. We have therefore updated our proposals to improve visibility and reduce the potential for conflicts
  • Station Square – There was majority support for our proposals to improve Station Square. We received some concerns regarding the maintenance of the proposed water feature. We are currently working with a specialist water fountain contractor to ensure that all maintenance requirements are fully understood and costed
  • Victoria Monument – We received a mixed response to the potential of relocating the Victoria Monument. We are therefore continuing to propose that the monument remains in its current location and it is incorporated into our updated design
  • James Street (east) - the section from Princes Street to Station Parade – We presented three different options for how James Street could look in the future. We received strongest support for the full pedestrianisation option. The option to retain unrestricted vehicle access was the second most popular. The least popular option was part-time pedestrianisation. The most cited reasons for supporting the full pedestrianisation options were that it would look and feel better and safer and create more spaces for trees and green features

Progressing the full pedestrianisation option has the potential to significantly delay the delivery of the scheme due to the process required to gain statutory approval; this could result in funding being withdrawn if timescales extend too far. As such, full pedestrianisation is not considered viable at this time. We have therefore decided to progress with a part-time pedestrianisation proposal which restricts vehicle access to 'loading only' and at limited times. This option will include many of the changes to the look of James Street (east) that were included in the full pedestrianisation option. The potential to make James Street (east) fully pedestrianised in the future would remain an option, with minimal additional changes to the look of the street.

Want to Know More?

On this webpage you will find information including plans to help you understand what is proposed and where, and visualisations to bring our plans to life. We have also provided answers to some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

If you have questions about the scheme which are not covered by the information provided here, you can submit your question via the ‘Questions’ tab (below).

Next Steps  

Following the close of the public consultation on Friday 12 November, all feedback will be considered as the designs evolve. The designs will be finalised by the end of 2021 ahead of a final decision on implementation of the scheme. It is anticipated that construction of the scheme will begin in spring 2022 for approximately 12 months. The detailed planning of the construction phase will be taking place following this consultation. We will aim to ensure all roads remain open to traffic at all times, and noise and other disturbance from the works will be minimised. We will be engaging further with residents and businesses later in the year with more detailed plans.

If you have any questions about the consultation or project, let us know below!

Please note, your user name and question will be visible to others, so please don't include any personal details.