As part of our transport vision, Leeds City Council, working with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Leeds Bradford Airport Company, is considering options for improving surface access and connectivity to the airport and the surrounding area including the A65 and A658. This includes access by road including buses and rail.
Leeds Bradford Airport plays an important role in the Region s economy both as an employer and in facilitating economic growth. The airport is expected to grow, with passenger numbers potentially increasing significantly in the future. Also, future proposals for an expansion of employment land at the airport is included in Leeds City Council s emerging Site Allocations Plan Publication Draft which is a key document in identifying specific allocations for employment land up to 2028. The proposed Employment Hub is expected to attract business investment, create jobs and would complement forecast passenger growth. The provision of the appropriate surface access transport infrastructure is important to facilitate this growth in a managed way. A recent study commissioned by the Department for Transport made the following recommendations in order to improve connectivity and accessibility to the airport: Short / Medium Term (up to 10 years): The A65 Airport Link Road, with associated improvements to bus services to Leeds and Bradford; Long Term (beyond 10 years): Rail link between Leeds, Bradford and the airport via Guiseley and Horsforth (subject to further work to determine viability). Leeds City Council, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and the airport all believe that a rail link would provide benefits and improved sustainable access to the airport, at the same time as broadening the catchment area and facilitating growth. However, experience at other UK airports indicates that road is still the predominant means of accessing the airport, even where there is a good rail service. At Leeds Bradford Airport, improvements to highways access and rail access would therefore be complementary to each other. Enhancements to highway-based surface access will be explored to provide short to long term improvements to facilitate growth at the airport to benefit airport and non-airport users and local residents. Although it is a longer term aspiration, work will commence shortly to investigate the potential options for access to the airport by rail. This consultation focusses on the concept of a new Link Road, as an important part of a future surface access strategy for the airport. We need your views This leaflet provides information on the background to the proposed new road and describes where we are in the process. It also gives information on corridor options currently being considered, but at this stage, no decisions have been made. We need your views to help us identify the best way forward. A questionnaire is attached which you can use to provide your views on local issues and the different options. The questionnaire can be completed online, before the 24th of January, or sent back to us by post or email. Website: www.leeds.gov.uk/airportlinkroad Email: airportlinkroxx@xxxxx.xxv.uk Post: Leeds City Council, Highways and Transportation, Selectapost 6, Ring Road, Middleton, Leeds, LS10 4AX If you have any questions about how to complete the form, please call 0113 395 2587 or email: airportlinkroxx@xxxxx.xxv.uk
The current usage of Leeds Bradford Airport is in the order of 3.3m passengers per annum. Government forecasts project that the airport could potentially grow to nearly 3 times this level by 2050. At present there is a perception that existing connectivity to the airport is constrained, impacting on journey times and reliability which causes delays for both car and bus journeys on the roads in the local areas of Horsforth, Rawdon and Yeadon. The airport currently contributes over 100m per annum to the region s economy. A new link road would help to unlock growth at the airport so that it can maximise its contribution. It could also help deliver growth in a managed way, reducing impacts and helping to improve some of the conditions mentioned above to the benefit of local communities. Options for Improvement A new Link Road has been an aspiration for Leeds City Council and the airport for many years. However, to date an appropriate scheme has not been identified. The Council is now considering the feasibility of two main corridor options for a new road, plus an alternative of upgrading the existing highway route. The Council is also starting to consider complementary improvements on the wider highway network, including bus lanes and junction improvements.
A Link Road could deliver the following benefits: Impact on Regional Economy Improved accessibility to the airport and adjacent employment sites that would facilitate managed growth of the airport and assist the regional economy Journeys to the Airport and surrounding area Improve journey times and reliability on routes to the airport for cars and buses including airport users and non-airport users (eg, a Link Road could reduce traffic volumes on the A65, A658 and other local roads) Local Impact Reduced levels of airport traffic on local roads currently drivers use local roads to access the airport, especially through Horsforth and Rawdon. An appropriately designed link road could improve conditions for local residents. Why do we need your views? The work is still at an early stage. The work done to date has reviewed possible options looking at issues, opportunities and constraints to identify the following corridor options which may help to deliver the benefits noted. However, before any options are considered further we need your views to help us identify the best way forward. The options shown on this leaflet are only broad corridors which the Council is considering. No decisions have been made about the details of the link road options or if the existing highway should be upgraded and we need your views to help us identify a preferred option.
Otley Old Road/A658 Junction Otley Old Road Whitehouse Lane Dean Lane Scotland Lane Bayton Lane A658 Green Lane B6152 Layton Road Rawdon Crematorium A65 Leeds Road LEGEND Option A Option B Option C Airport Boundary Crown Copyright and database rights 2015 Ordnance Survey LA100019567
Option A New road from the A65, running along the eastern edge of the airport, tying in to the A658 Harrogate Road to the north of the airport Provides a new link between the A65 to the A658 and a new direct route into the airport for cars, taxis and buses Complementary to the proposed 36ha employment hub Provides greatest traffic relief to local communities Greatest impact on farm and wood land Most expensive (between 50 million and 75 million) Option B New road from the A65, running to the east of Rawdon and tying in to the A658 Harrogate Road to the south of the airport Provides a new link between the A65 to the A658 but the main access into the airport will remain from A658 Provides less traffic relief to local communities than Option A Less expensive than Option A (between 25 million and 50 million) Option C Upgrade of junctions on the existing roads with some localised widening May have greatest impact on existing properties (depending on detailed design) Limited improvement in accessibility for airport May provide no traffic relief to local communities No impact on farm and wood land Least expensive (between 5 million and 15 million)
The current position in the process is shown in the indicative programme below. No dates are yet fixed, but it is envisaged that the scheme could be open during 2023. Now Possible Link Road Corridor Options Engagement CONSULTATION OPPORTUNITY End of 2016 Pre-Application Engagement on preferred Option CONSULTATION OPPORTUNITY Mid 2017 Planning Application Scoping CONSULTATION OPPORTUNITY Mid 2018 Planning Application CONSULTATION OPPORTUNITY 2020-2023 Construction 2023 Scheme Opening What happens next? This phase of consultation seeks views on the idea of the Link Road and the corridor options. Further opportunities to have a say, as the scheme develops, are indicated on the programme above. We will ensure that the local community and stakeholders are kept informed with the development of the scheme as it progresses. If you would like to be informed of the dates of future consultation, please email your details to: airpoxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxv.uk
Q1 How significant do you think the following issues are on roads in Horsforth, Rawdon and Yeadon and also to/from the airport? (please tick one) Not a problem Moderate Problem Major Problem Don t know/ no view Rat running on local roads Congestion on main roads Slow or unreliable bus services Road safety Lack of walking/cycling provision Other (please specify) Q2 What is your overall opinion on the proposed A65 Airport A658 Link Road? Strongly in favour In favour No feeling either way Not in favour Definitely not in favour Don t know Q3 From the corridor options identified, please tick the appropriate box to indicate your preference. Option A Option B - Option C Q3a - If you have a preference, please state why. No preference Don t know Q4 Do you have any other comments about the A65 Airport A658 Link Road? About You Q5 Which of the following best describes you? Work at the airport Local resident (Horsforth, Rawdon, Yeadon etc) Local resident and airport user Non-local resident Non-local resident and airport user Q6 To help us with our analysis, please tell us your home post code... The following questions are optional but will help us better understand your transport needs. Q7 What is your gender? Male Female Q8 - Which age category do you fall within? 15 or under 16-24 25-44 45-64 65-79 80+ Thank you for taking the time to let us have your comments. Tear off and return to Leeds City Council, Highways and Transportation, Selectapost 6, Ring Road, Middleton, Leeds, LS10 4AX Alternatively email to xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxv.uk or complete online at www.leeds.gov.uk/airportlinkroad