Harrogate Station Gateway
Thank you to all those who took part in this consultation – we received over 2,000 responses.
Please find the Outcome Report available to view here.
To view all updates on this project please visit North Yorkshire Council website.
The findings will be presented to the North Yorkshire County Council’s business and environmental services executive members on Friday 20 January 2023, when they will be asked to approve the next steps.
These will include publication of the necessary traffic regulation order, which is scheduled for February 2023. This is a statutory requirement for any changes to the highway and will be a further opportunity for formal comment.
During 2023, executive councillors will consider whether to submit the full business case to the West Yorkshire Combined Authority for approval to release the funding. In the event that all approvals are received, construction is expected to begin before the end of the year.
The following information was presented between 20 July - 23 August 2022:
Major improvements are proposed for the area next to the rail and bus station in Harrogate town centre. We want you to have your say.
The Harrogate Transforming Cities Fund is a £10.9m project to improve Harrogate town centre. The intention is to transform the area into one where you can walk, cycle or take public transport more easily. This would improve the town centre area around the railway and bus stations for all, as well as connecting people to economic and education opportunities. Proposals include:
• improvements to James Street that will provide a better retail environment to help support the town centre economy
• transformation of Station Square and One Arch
• enhanced walking, cycling and bus access along Station Parade and Station Bridge
This is a joint project between Harrogate Borough Council, North Yorkshire County Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
How can I get involved?
- View the updated proposals below, plus view the maps, proposed materials and planting in the 'Our Designs' section
- Read our frequently asked questions
- Fill out the survey by Tuesday 23 August 2022
- Send us your ideas using the Ideas Tool
- Ask us a question using the Questions Tool
- Visit us at the Victoria Shopping Centre on Thursday 4, Friday 5 and Saturday 6 August, 11am - 4pm (on the ground floor)
- Join our live online webinar on Wednesday 10 August 6pm - Please click the link here: Join live event
If you were unable to make the webinar and would like to view the recording, please watch it here: https://youtu.be/_dyTp2Dz5vY
Previous consultations
These proposals were first created after the outcomes of the public consultation on the 2019 Harrogate and Knaresborough Congestion Study. The vast majority of the public who responded to the consultation did not support the building of a northern relief road. Instead, there was greater support for implementing more sustainable transport measures, including better provision for walking and cycling, and improved public transport access. To view the report, please click here.
Building on this outcome, we have been developing proposals, through the Transforming Cities Fund (TCF) programme, for improving walking and cycling access to rail and bus services and reducing general traffic within the town centre.
The first TCF consultation (held February – March 2021) asked for feedback about the fundamental potential design options focussed on Station Parade and adjoining streets. The majority of respondents agreed or strongly agreed with the proposals - to view the outcome report, click here - and the council agreed to take these proposals forward.
The second TCF consultation (held October – November 2021) focussed on more detail relating to the proposals and explained where decisions had been made and why. All information can be found on www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/harrogateround2. The feedback to this consultation raised concerns about possible congestion, air pollution, and impacts on local businesses and taxis.
In developing our design, we have considered this feedback; we have also considered how things like utilities could affect the design.
This third round of consultation provides more detail about the designs and additional information to help you answer our survey questions.
We asked, you said
In the second round of consultation, you told us that you were worried that closing one lane on Station Parade might cause more congestion. As a result of the design amendments, including changes to the Station Bridge/East Parade roundabout, we have considered what impact the current detailed designs could have on road users and traffic across the town centre – the technical note can be found here, plus you can view the notes from May 2021 and September 2021. This uses a ‘worst-case’ scenario based on pre-pandemic traffic data and did not take into account any benefit from those who may change from private car journeys to walking and cycling. This shows that whilst there is likely to be some negative impacts during the busiest part of the day, the morning and afternoon peaks, they are not expected to cause excessive congestion and are considered acceptable.
Also, you told us that you were worried that there could be a negative impact on local businesses. We have an economic case that shows improvements to public spaces and improvements for walking and cycling tend to have a positive or neutral economic impact on local businesses. Our survey on James Street suggests that nearly all people would continue to shop here if parking was removed.
Last time, you told us you were concerned about air pollution in the town. We have reviewed the likely impact of the current detailed designs - you can view the air quality assessment here and the cover note here. This shows that it is still considered that the proposals will have a negligible impact on the area. We believe the designs will lead to an improvement in air quality through removing traffic from James Street and enabling a shift towards less car use and more use of public transport, walking, and cycling. If the decision is made to submit a Full Business Case to the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, we will continue to review the air quality assessment throughout the scheme.
We have also:
- Refined the One Arch and Station Square designs
- Refined some junction designs to make it easier to cross, e.g. a puffin crossing on Cheltenham Parade
- Amended designs of the Station Bridge/East Parade roundabout by the Odeon cinema
- Developed further proposals for lighting
- Chosen the designs of benches, bins and so on
Have your say
Between 20 July and 23 August 2022, we are asking for your feedback on these latest proposals.
Your views are important to help us finalise the designs, so please take this opportunity to let us know what you think.
1: View our proposals in the 'Our designs' section.
2: Visit us
Visit us at Victoria Shopping Centre, at Unit 21 on the ground floor, to view the drawings or ask us questions. The team will be available at the following times:
- Thursday 4 August, 11am – 4pm
- Friday 5 August, 11am – 4pm
- Saturday 6 August, 11am – 4pm
We are also holding an online event. We will present the designs and there will be an opportunity to ask questions. The recording will be made available to view after the event:
- Wednesday 10 August 6pm - please join the event by clicking the link here
- If you were unable to make the webinar and would like to view the recording, please watch it here: https://youtu.be/_dyTp2Dz5vY
And please take a look at our previous ‘Flythrough’ video to help bring our proposals to life: please note, this is to give an idea of what the proposals might look like and does not represent a final design.
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 8AL
Next Steps
Following the close of the public consultation on Tuesday 23 August 2022, we will consider all feedback and produce a consultation outcome report. North Yorkshire County Council’s Executive will then consider whether to submit a Full Business Case to the West Yorkshire Combined Authority for approval and implementation of the scheme. If the scheme is approved, it is anticipated that construction would begin in winter 2022/3 for approximately 12 months. We would work to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum.
