Learn more about the City Square highways improvements scheme.

Leeds City Square

We’ll transform the area around this Grade I listed building, with bigger public spaces for everyone to enjoy and better bus waiting areas.

The Corn Exchange

We want to make it easier for buses to pull
into, and out of, stops. We also want to
create more attractive waiting areas around
those stops, and better pedestrian crossings.

Albion Street


An enlarged Victoria Gardens and a new
public space on Cookridge Street, as well
improvements to the layout of The Headrow to reduce delays for bus users.

Victoria Gardens and Cookridge Street

Bus passengers will benefit from wider footways around bus stops on The Headrow and we plan to create a new public space by closing off part of New Briggate to vehicles. 

The Headrow at New Briggate

Westgate is a key gateway to the centre for buses, cycles, pedestrians and general traffic. We want to improve bus delays and cycling provision.

Westgate

Tell us about the issues you face as a bus user, cycle user, car user, pedestrian, business owner or local resident.

Use the Connecting Leeds map to highlight issues in the city centre

A programme of bus stop upgrades will
feature better seating, useful maps and
real-time information displays.

City centre bus stops

We propose to close New Briggate to all vehicles outside morning servicing hours to create a new public space. Bus services will be relocated to Vicar Lane.

New Briggate, Vicar Lane and North Street

Wider footways, a new pedestrian crossing,
more greenery and improved road layouts
to reduce bus delays.

Dortmund Square

Investment in public spaces, more greenery and more attractive waiting areas around bus stops, with some bus services rerouted to improve reliability.

Vicar Lane, above The Headrow

Restricting part of the road to buses and
access will make it safer for cyclists and pedestrians. We will also introduce wider footways and high-quality public spaces.

Woodhouse Lane

The central section of The Headrow is where buses linking the east and west of the city meet those travelling north and south and our proposals will help reduce bus delay.

The Headrow from Park Row to New Briggate

The western end of the The Headrow passes  Victoria Gardens, an important public space and key route for buses linking east and west Leeds.

The Headrow and Cookridge Street

We’ll increase the number of bus 
services using Lower Briggate by 
making it two-way. We will also widen the footways for pedestrians.

Lower Briggate


To deliver our plans we will need to make some changes to access and loading arrangements.

Access and Loading

Non-bus traffic heading away from the city centre will be rerouted via Blenheim Walk, with improvements for buses, pedestrians and cyclists along Blenhiem Terrace.

Blenheim Terrace


We propose to improve the pedestrian  and bus waiting environment, reduce delays to buses and support the regeneration of Kirkgate.

Kirkgate, New York Street and York Street

We propose to improve public realm, provide better pedestrian links and remove the causes of bus delay. This will enhance the setting of the Freedom Quarter.

Boar Lane and Lower Briggate

As a result of our proposals and to improve bus reliability we would reroute a number of bus services in the city centre.

Bus routes

We propose to create a new public space in front of the Corn Exchange and pedestrianise parts of Call Lane, while enhancing bus waiting areas and crossings.

Corn Exchange and Call Lane

To improve public realm and create new public spaces, we propose to make some changes to bus routes.

Bus route changes

To make bus journeys faster and more reliable, we propose to make some changes to access and loading arrangements. These changes will also benefit air quality,

Bus priority, access and loading

We propose to widen the footways on Park Row and re-configure Infirmary Street to allow buses to operate in both directions.

Infirmary Street and Park Row

We propose to transform Meadow Lane to improve facilities for walking and cycling, while supporting the regeneration of the South Bank and the creation of a City Park.

Meadow Lane and Bridge End

Meadow Lane improvements

<h3>Meadow Lane highways improvements</h3>Work to transform the highway section of Meadow Lane started in April 2021. <a href="http://2021.This"></a> This work will see the redevelopment of Meadow Lane from a four lane road to a two-way road with further improvements planned to start in July on improving the public realm, including a new city park.The conversion of the existing highway on Meadow Lane from a dual carriageway to a single carriageway will provide the opportunity to release the land around the highway and will form part of the council&rsquo;s contribution to the City Park. The design of the City Park is under development and work is set to start later this year.Once the scheme is fully complete in spring 2022, there will be significant benefits:&bull; The Leeds Bridge bus gates will make bus journeys faster and more reliable and reduce air pollution and vehicular noise on Meadow Lane.&bull; The significant narrowing of Meadow Lane allows for the repurposing of redundant highway to be used for new development, public realm and greenspace creating an attractive setting for the City Park&bull; The scheme helps to unlock the delivery of the city council&rsquo;s contribution to the City Park, which will facilitate realisation of the vision for South Bank and address the shortage of green space in the City Centre&bull; The scheme also provides residual brownfield land to be regenerated for future development directly to the north of the greenspace&bull; Cycle users will benefit from a continuous protected two-way cycleway between Great Wilson Street and the Call Lane/ Swinegate junction&bull; Bus users will benefit from new bus shelters and updated real-time information.&bull; The bus stop by-pass will ensure there are no conflicts between bus stop users and cycle users at the southbound bus stop.&bull; The capacity of northbound bus stops in the area will increase, enhancing the resilience of the bus network.Plans can be viewed and downloaded below.<h3>Meadow Lane North plan</h3><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/commonplace-digital-limited/image/upload/v1621329954/projects/leedscitycentretransport/08ea37fa-8879-41e6-8f40-63c851a45ac6.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dii"><h3>Meadow Lane south&nbsp;</h3><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/commonplace-digital-limited/image/upload/v1621330044/projects/leedscitycentretransport/be19e782-d2e9-448b-8eb0-80b86dde468b.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dii"> <h3>Meadow Lane public realm improvements</h3>In summer 2021, work will start on transforming the public space on Meadow Lane, a <a href="http://0.26">0.26</a> hectare (about half the size of a football field) new green space converting the 50,000 sq ft of highway land into a meaningful, inclusive, community focused public realm.This is the first phase of the wider delivery of a new all-purpose, 3.5 hectare green city centre park, realising our vision to open the city by connecting the north to the south, utilising previously derelict and under-utilised space and making this the largest park in the city centre.As part of this , the council will create a 0.26 <a href="http://0.26"></a> hectare (about half the size of a football field) new green space on Meadow Lane converting the 50,000 sq ft of highway land into a meaningful, inclusive, community focused public realm.With the inclusion of a new pedestrian footbridge connecting Sovereign Square to the Meadow Lane Park, the journey time and experience from the station to South Bank will be dramatically transformed.Our goal is to create word class and inclusive public realm that transforms the city and provides enhanced connectivity for a healthier more active travel experience. The new and substantial transformation happening within the Bridge End locality will see a reduction to the road space and the creation of a people first, green urban realm, providing new opportunities for active travel and contributing to our goal to make Leeds carbon neutral by 2030.This includes the conversion of 50,000 sq ft of highway land which will enable attractive and safe bus, pedestrian and cycling connections through South Bank to an improved public space around the Corn Exchange and form part of the new City Park &ndash;the largest new city centre green space in the UK, which will be delivered by Vastint and the Council at the former Tetley Brewery site.<h3>How will the project be funded?</h3>Funding for this work and other regeneration projects across the city has been successfully secured from the government&rsquo;s Getting Building Fund which will work towards boosting economic growth and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, help to tackle climate change, and improve residents&rsquo; wellbeing.This funding will contribute to transforming road space in the South Bank area of the city into new green space and improved public realm as part of one of Europe&rsquo;s largest regeneration programmes. The funding will also help to enable the majority of City Park to be complete ahead of the Leeds 2023 international cultural festival.<h3>Additional materials</h3><h4>Meadow Lane north</h4><a href="https://s3-eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/commonplace-customer-assets/leedscitycentretransport/Corn_Exchange_MeadowLane(N)_A0_Board4.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Click here for Meadow Lane north PDF</a>.<a href="https://s3-eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/commonplace-customer-assets/leedscitycentretransport/Corn_Exchange_MeadowLane(N)_A0_Board4.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/commonplace-digital-limited/image/upload/v1650640768/projects/wiwpd3c4nivf9adoqveh.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 50%;"></a><h4>Meadow Lane south</h4><a href="https://s3-eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/commonplace-customer-assets/leedscitycentretransport/Corn_Exchange_MeadowLane(S)_A0_Board5.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Click here for Meadow Lane south PDF</a>.<a href="https://s3-eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/commonplace-customer-assets/leedscitycentretransport/Corn_Exchange_MeadowLane(S)_A0_Board5.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/commonplace-digital-limited/image/upload/v1650640911/projects/r9x6kmoyz5q6gbbagc0f.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 50%;"></a>

A look at the work we have completed over the past 18 months.

Headrow, Park Row and Infirmary Street Gateway completion

<h3>Introduction</h3>For the past two years, work has progressed at pace on the Headrow Gateway scheme. The &pound;20m+ scheme will strengthen the provision for sustainable transport modes in the city centre and the wider Leeds district. It will also improve the city centre as a place to work, live, shop and entertain. The scheme will transform the area into a world-class gateway for bus users, pedestrians and cycle users.In 2016, the Department for Transport granted Leeds City Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority &pound;173.5m to spend on public transport improvements in a bid to upgrade the bus network and provide space for safer walking and cycling routes.Connecting Leeds underpins the Leeds Inclusive Growth Strategy to create a more prosperous, liveable, healthy Leeds. This includes city centre gateways, upgraded pedestrian environments and redesigned bus stop infrastructure. The scheme will support fast-paced economic growth across the Leeds City Region by providing an efficient, sustainable, quality public transport system.The preliminary design started in late 2018 with the design partner, WSP and was handed over to Capita and the delivery partner, John Sisk &amp; Son in early 2019 for detailed design. The scheme is now complete and has seen 15,950m2 of new wider pavements laid, 4,697 tonnes of waste reused or recycled as well as the installation of new, safer cycle lanes and bus gates which facilitate bus priority. The design, quality and functionality of materials is in keeping with the enhanced city centre palette and will be maintained for many years.<h3>The Headrow</h3>The Headrow is one of the most important crossroads in the city centre, with over 100 buses passing through every hour. The consultations highlighted a number of issues affecting transport and the environment in this area. Buses were usually delayed by traffic and other buses on this section.The ambitious plans aim to give people more appealing alternatives to the car by making bus services quicker and more reliable and ensuring that journeys on foot and bike are more convenient, attractive and safer. The vision was to have more reliable and shorter bus journey times, easier connections between bus and rail services, safer, greener and more and less vehicle dominated areas working towards the Climate Emergency agenda and the 2030 carbon zero targets that have been set by the Council.The final scheme will transform the area into a world-class gateway to Leeds City Centre for bus users, pedestrians and cycle users. It now features high quality public realm, new trees and increased footway widths which will improve the townscape and enhance the setting of heritage assets, such as the Town Hall and Victoria Gardens. This will make the centre more welcoming and attractive for visitors, residents and employees.<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/commonplace-digital-limited/image/upload/v1621520527/projects/leedscitycentretransport/db29e82f-44bb-41ab-9044-7d9702a96f98.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dii">The new proposed layout on The <a href="http://Headrow.To">Headrow. To</a> download the map, click <a href="https://s3-eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/commonplace-customer-assets/leedscitycentretransport/Phase%202C_Headrow%20Gateway_Map.pdf">here.</a><h3>Vicar Lane</h3>Vicar Lane has returned to a two way route for buses, for the first time in 50 years. Re-routing has reduced running distances for the majority of the bus services and removes a key pinch point on the Headrow. The scheme has improved cycle safety by providing a protected cycle route and enhanced pedestrian connectivity by creating new crossings and reducing crossing distances.<h3>Cookridge Street</h3>Last year, Cookridge Street was permanently closed to all motorised traffic and the area has been converted into a new public space that offers seating, greenery and is set to become a hub for outdoor events and activities. There is also a new, segregated cycle path which links from the train station.<h3>Infirmary Street and Park Row</h3>In addition to the &pound;20million+ invested in the Headrow Gateway scheme, a further &pound;8million was granted for improvements to Park Row and Infirmary Street.The essential improvement scheme has seen Park Row converted into a one-way street for most of its length making it easier for buses to use and easing congestion. The pavements have been significantly widened and a protected cycleway has been created which will link the City Station to The Headrow and Cookridge Street. The road will be modernised and more greenery will be planted to improve public realm.Over on Infirmary Street, the road has been converted into a two-way operation designed for bus and cycle priority access (with provision for local access for businesses and residents). Bus stops will be upgraded and bus-only restrictions will improve journey times and air quality.Further improvements on the scheme include:<ul><li>improving bus journey times by making Park Row one-way, southbound, with bus lay-bys</li><li>new stretches of bus lane to reduce delays on Park Row, Infirmary Street and City Square</li><li>a short section of Park Row &ndash; between Russell Street and Bedford Street &ndash; remaining two-way for access-only to Russell Street</li><li>providing wider pavements on Park Row and Infirmary Street, especially on the east side of Park Row and the north side of Infirmary Street</li><li>southbound bus stops on Park Row being consolidated at the southern end of the street</li><li>a two-way protected cycle path between Bedford Street and the Headrow and a protected southbound cycle track between City Square and Russell Street</li><li>making Infirmary Street a two-way route, so that bus connections are maintained following future City Square proposals (currently under development) &ndash; it will remove through traffic from City Square and extend public space</li><li>bus stops in lay-bys on both sides of Infirmary Street and removal of the central bus stop island</li><li>a pedestrian crossing across the middle of Infirmary Street</li></ul><h3>Additional materials</h3><h4>Headrow route map - proposed route layout</h4><a href="https://s3-eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/commonplace-customer-assets/leedscitycentretransport/Phase%202C_Headrow%20Gateway_Map.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Click here for Headrow route map PDF</a>.<a href="https://s3-eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/commonplace-customer-assets/leedscitycentretransport/Phase%202C_Headrow%20Gateway_Map.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/commonplace-digital-limited/image/upload/v1650641263/projects/zxmpceo1lcwkhnit7es0.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 50%;"></a>

Find out about proposals to improve roads and public spaces around Crown Point Road

Crown Point Road Highways Improvements

Crown Point Road is being transformed over the next year to create more space for walking, cycling and new bus facilities.The changes will see Crown Point Road narrowed from two and three lanes to a single lane road, with wider footways, wide signal-controlled pedestrian crossings on raised tables, a segregated two-way cycle track, cycle parking, a bus layby with a bus shelter, and loading bays.There will also be space for green infrastructure including trees, and high-quality paving materials throughout.The works are being carried out to help create a more walkable and liveable environment that supports sustainable living and travel on foot, bicycle, and by public transport. This will better connect nearby communities with the city centre, and support the city&rsquo;s climate change work by reducing the reliance on motor vehicles in the city centre.The transformation of Crown Point Road also complements several other improvements in the area. These include the forthcoming Aire Park - the largest new green space of any UK city centre - alongside the wider network of initiatives including Meadow Lane, Corn Exchange, City Square and forthcoming David Oluwale Bridge.The work is being carried out by Hinko Construction Ltd, on behalf of Leeds City Council, and is due to start during the week commencing 28 March 2022. It will take around 52 weeks.View the plans below:<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/commonplace-digital-limited/image/upload/v1647269797/projects/leedscitycentretransport/bd119074-a35e-4167-ba4c-64030c9f9bd8.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dii"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/commonplace-digital-limited/image/upload/v1647269816/projects/leedscitycentretransport/2aa31220-9769-492a-b59e-132f9845e10c.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dii">The scheme has received &pound;3.75m in funding from the government&rsquo;s Get Building Fund, administered by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.If you would like more general information about the scheme, please contact <a href="mailto:regeneration.team@leeds.gov.uk">regeneration.team@leeds.gov.uk</a>.

Find out traffic flow and parking restrictions that have been introduced in the city centre. 

City centre traffic restrictions and parking for blue badge holders

Below are two maps to help motorists navigate around Leeds city centre and help blue badge holders find a parking space whilst major road improvements are carried out and completed.One map shows which roads in the city centre have restricted access and at what times of the day. Where there is no private vehicle access or access between certain times, these areas will be enforceable by a charge for not following the new restriction rules. Any charge collected will be reinvested into making improvements to the Leeds transport network.The other map shows where Blue Badge holders can park, with 131 spaces allocated across 26 different locations in the city centre. How to access the spaces and the direction of travel to them is also shown on the map in blue, and the exit routes are shown in yellow.These maps are to help people find their way around the city centre during ongoing major <a href="http://improvements.works"></a> improvements. Future works are planned for the city centre which will change the restrictions around the city centre. Once construction is complete, we will share updated maps.This is part of a 173.5million Leeds Public Transport Investment Programme that aims to dramatically improve public transport, cycling and walking infrastructure across Leeds. It has been shaped following consultation with the public - in 2016, we started The Transport Conversation, which was essentially an opportunity for residents of Leeds to discuss what transport changes they&#39;d like to see.Over 8,000 of residents responded with feedback that helped shape our <a href="https://leedstransportstrategy.commonplace.is/">Connecting Leeds strategy</a> . Since then we have had three further consultations with you on what changes you would like to see in your city centre:<ul><li>The city centre consultation in 2018</li><li><a href="https://leedscitycentretransport.commonplace.is/proposals/headrow-park-row-and-infirmary-street-gateway-completion">The Headrow consultation in 2019</a></li><li><a href="https://leedscitycentretransport.commonplace.is/proposals/corn-exchange-and-call-lane">&nbsp;</a><a href="https://leedscitycentretransport.commonplace.is/proposals/headrow-park-row-and-infirmary-street-gateway-completion"></a> The Corn Exchange consultation in 2019</li></ul>Overall, respondents asked for Leeds to have:<ul><li>Priority bus, pedestrians, and cycle infrastructure above access for private vehicles</li><li>Access retained to city centre public car parks and delivery routes for businesses</li><li>Easy access for blue badge parking bays</li><li>Designated bus gates to increase the reliability of the bus service</li><li>Enforceable and meaningful access restrictions for private vehicle users</li><li>Retention of access to important Leeds landmarks such as; the Leeds Arena, the universities, the Leeds General Infirmary, and Leeds Playhouse.</li></ul><h4>City centre traffic restriction routes</h4><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/commonplace-digital-limited/image/upload/v1687421267/projects/5afe9cda2afbe646c5c77b9b/da40fw71otjxzyt9dbcz.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><h4>Blue badge parking access and exit routes</h4><iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1LmY_zFU5KgzD0Ot12rmmU9mRUz-gu4o&ehbc=2E312F" width="640" height="480"></iframe> Below is a list of &lsquo;What 3 Words&rsquo; locations to help blue badge holders find parking spaces in the city centre.<ol class="decimal_type"><li>Alexander Street:&nbsp;<a href="https://w3w.co/aura.pushed.super">https://w3w.co/aura.pushed.super</a></li><li>St Anne&rsquo;s Street:&nbsp;<a href="https://w3w.co/drove.exchanges.rounds">https://w3w.co/drove.exchanges.rounds</a></li><li>Mark Lane:&nbsp;<a href="https://w3w.co/guides.fine.hook">https://w3w.co/guides.fine.hook</a></li><li>Central Road:&nbsp;<a href="https://w3w.co/rally.attend.damp">https://w3w.co/rally.attend.damp</a></li><li>Lower Basinghall Street:&nbsp;<a href="https://w3w.co/craft.expert.juices">https://w3w.co/craft.expert.juices</a></li><li>King Charles Street:&nbsp;<a href="https://w3w.co/hush.upgrading.enhancement">https://w3w.co/hush.upgrading.enhancement</a></li><li>Cross York Street:&nbsp;<a href="https://w3w.co/poet.boots.miss">https://w3w.co/poet.boots.miss</a></li><li>South Parade:&nbsp;<a href="https://w3w.co/vase.blog.vote">https://w3w.co/vase.blog.vote</a></li><li>Edward Street:&nbsp;<a href="https://w3w.co/goal.total.hands">https://w3w.co/goal.total.hands</a>&nbsp;</li><li>Kirkgate:&nbsp;<a href="https://w3w.co/king.winter.dated">https://w3w.co/king.winter.dated</a></li><li>The Calls:&nbsp;<a href="https://w3w.co/booth.caves.deals">https://w3w.co/booth.caves.deals</a></li><li>Eastgate:&nbsp;<a href="https://w3w.co/palm.baked.wonderfully">https://w3w.co/palm.baked.wonderfully</a></li><li>Ludgate Hill:&nbsp;<a href="https://w3w.co/hers.upgrading.lush">https://w3w.co/hers.upgrading.lush</a></li><li>Albion Street:&nbsp;<a href="https://w3w.co/print.remove.taker">https://w3w.co/print.remove.taker</a></li><li>Percival Street:&nbsp;<a href="https://w3w.co/closet.powers.trucks">https://w3w.co/closet.powers.trucks</a></li><li>Cross Belgrave Street:&nbsp;<a href="https://w3w.co/system.silks.moth">https://w3w.co/system.silks.moth</a></li><li>Wormald Row:&nbsp;<a href="https://w3w.co/nods.booth.nerve">https://w3w.co/nods.booth.nerve</a></li><li>Oxford Place:&nbsp;<a href="https://w3w.co/frame.candy.small">https://w3w.co/frame.candy.small</a></li><li>Kirkgate:&nbsp;<a href="https://w3w.co/light.keys.waddled">https://w3w.co/light.keys.waddled</a></li><li>Cookridge Street:&nbsp;<a href="https://w3w.co/rated.firmly.latter">https://w3w.co/rated.firmly.latter</a></li><li>Belgrave Street:&nbsp;<a href="https://w3w.co/puddles.axed.curving">https://w3w.co/puddles.axed.curving</a></li><li>Water Lane:&nbsp;<a href="https://w3w.co/trails.debit.fits">https://w3w.co/trails.debit.fits</a></li><li>Waterloo Street:&nbsp;<a href="https://w3w.co/enter.visits.debit">https://w3w.co/enter.visits.debit</a></li><li>Playhouse Square:&nbsp;<a href="https://w3w.co/moment.poetic.festivity">https://w3w.co/moment.poetic.festivity</a></li><li>Quebec Street: <a href="https://w3w.co/wires.often.policy">https://w3w.co/wires.often.policy</a></li><li>Calverley Street:&nbsp;<a href="https://w3w.co/select.zeal.drops">https://w3w.co/select.zeal.drops</a></li></ol>

Documents

Work started on this scheme in June 2020.  The plans changed in response to consultation feedback. 

Corn Exchange Scheme

After nearly two years on site, the Corn Exchange scheme is expected to finish by May 2022. Highways improvements outside the Corn Exchange include dedicated bus gates for more reliable bus services in the centre, new cycle lanes, wider footways, pedestrianisation of Call Lane and straight across pedestrian crossings. The space directly outside the Corn Exchange benefits from raised planters and accessible seating offering a new public area for the city centre.<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/commonplace-digital-limited/image/upload/v1649761184/projects/xq26rfnyjnsrkuorvtoo.png" id="isPasted" class="fr-fic fr-dii">----<h3>Introduction</h3>In October 2019, <a href="https://leedscitycentretransport.commonplace.is/schemes/proposals/corn-exchange-and-call-lane/details">we consulted on plans to transform the area around the Corn Exchange.</a> With over 100 buses passing through the area every hour, it&rsquo;s a key gateway for people visiting or working in the city. It&rsquo;s also home to one of the city&rsquo;s most iconic buildings and is a lively vibrant hub for nightlife. The area no longer meets the transport and economic ambitions of the city &ndash; it is usually congested, particularly in rush hour and buses are regularly delayed.In 2016, Connecting Leeds was granted an unprecedented &pound;270 million to invest in the transport network and after two rounds of consultation on this area, 2,200 responses and listening to your feedback, we&rsquo;re ready to update you on our scheme design.Most people responding to our previous consultation felt positively about our proposals and that they would make the area a more desirable location for everyone. Respondents felt the proposals would bring benefits for pedestrians, public realm, air quality and public safety.We received some valuable feedback from residents and business-owners and incorporated some of this into our plans which you can view below.Work started on site in August 2020 and the entire scheme is set to be complete by May 2022. John Sisk &amp; Son are the contractors working on site.<h3>Main elements of the scheme include:</h3><ul><li>Widening footpaths</li><li>Bus and pedestrian priority measures</li><li>Upgrading bus stops and moving some existing ones</li><li>Changing some road layouts</li><li>Planting new trees</li><li>Provision for safer, protected cycle ways</li><li>Improved public realm areas</li></ul>Read on to see plans and descriptions section by section.<h3>Corn Exchange public realm improvements</h3>In May 2021, work started to transform the space outside the city&rsquo;s iconic Corn Exchange building. The work, which will run alongside and complement the Connecting Leeds highways work, will see planted trees lining the streets to create a welcoming green space and shelter for wildlife, safer routes through for cyclists, and crossing points designed to assist pedestrians to navigate through the space safely.Leeds City Council will also enter into a lease with the Corn Exchange and its owners Rushbond, in a bid to create a new Pavilion building alongside the new outdoor seating area in the public space outside Corn Exchange capable of hosting an array of outdoor events and activities along with &lsquo;al-fresco&rsquo; dining. The building will be built by Rushbond and is subject to further planning approvals. The public space in the City Centre will provide a major new amenity for the people of Leeds, a place to meet, greet and experience, with the backdrop of one of the City&rsquo;s most celebrated buildings.To support this work, the upper section of Call Lane (outside Blue Rinse) will be closed to buses and private hire vehicles.<h3>Boar Lane and Lower Briggate</h3>The central reservation will be removed from Duncan Street to allow for wider pavements and a new wider crossing will be in place outside McDonald&rsquo;s offering pedestrians and cyclists priority.There will be a new protected two-way cycleway in place on Lower Briggate to encourage active travel into the city, and more greenery in the area to improve public realm.To meet the demands of the bus network, there is a requirement to provide:<ul><li>2 x bus stops on the west side of Lower Briggate (north-bound)</li><li>2 x bus stops on the south side of Duncan Street</li><li>1 x bus stop on the north side of Duncan Street</li></ul><h4>Plan of Boar Lane and Lower Briggate</h4><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/commonplace-digital-limited/image/upload/v1620300012/projects/leedscitycentretransport/5f5ed94a-5612-4c35-ad21-88989e8e5187.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dii"> <h3>Corn Exchange and Upper Call Lane</h3>This section is at the very heart the scheme. It is one of the busiest areas in West Yorkshire for bus movements with buses serving the north and south side of the city.Bus passengers are currently served by the very unpopular Perspex tunnel, in front of the Corn exchange; this will be removed and replaced with accessible high-quality bus stops with real time and audio information.There is also a proposal to close part of Call Lane (immediately in front of the Corn Exchange building).We will do the following to facilitate bus demand:- 2 x bus stops on New Market Street both north-bound and south-bound, and two bus tops on Vicar Lane.- Crown Street will run north to south rather than south to north.

<h4 id="isPasted">Plan of Corn Exchange</h4><h3><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/commonplace-digital-limited/image/upload/v1620300181/projects/leedscitycentretransport/63282aaa-72b5-4bf9-979d-060cc1e39082.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dii"> Lower Briggate, Lower Call Lane and Bridge End</h3>There will be a new two-way cycleway on Bridge End and Leeds Bridge which will link over to Lower Briggate, encouraging active travel in to the city. Through a combination of dedicated cycle lanes, road use and shared space the cycle route will enable access through the heart of the city centre, passing the Corn Exchange and heading along Call Lane then Kirkgate. There will also be Copenhagen crossings over Dock Street, Water Lane and Waterloo Street which will offer priority to pedestrians and cyclists, improving journey times for those travelling in to the city by foot or on bike.To serve the night-time economy, we propose to provide two day-time loading bays on the west side of Lower Briggate, each of which will function as a Hackney carriage ranks from 7pm &ndash; 7am. On Call Lane between Duncan Street and The Calls, we are providing a loading bay. There is a requirement to widen the inadequate footway on the west side of this section of Call Lane to ensure it is safe and accessible for pedestrian; to retain a clear route for buses, we&rsquo;ll need to change the road layout. This means we won&rsquo;t be able to provide for parked vehicles here and the existing on-street pay and display parking will be removed. On the north side of the loop road section of Call Lane, we are providing a Hackney carriage rank, a length of blue badge parking and a length for loading, which can also be used for pick-up and drop-off by private vehicles.<h4>Plan of Lower Briggate, Lower Call Lane</h4><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/commonplace-digital-limited/image/upload/v1620300228/projects/leedscitycentretransport/6b8ce372-3f37-440e-99fe-56ecec22ba2d.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dii"> <h3>New York Street, Kirkgate and The Markets</h3>This area is a key part of the bus network for services running across the city. It&rsquo;s a key source of delay for buses. Improvements are planned at the bus station and this project will complement that investment by enhancing provision for pedestrians and bus users.To meet the demands of the bus service, we are proposing:<ul><li>2 x new bus stops on the north side of New York Street</li><li>2 x bus stops on the north side of York Street</li><li>2 x bus stops on the south side of York Street</li></ul>To support the regeneration of Kirkgate and meet our climate emergency objectives, we&rsquo;re widening footways on the south side of Lower Kirkgate, planting new trees and removing all existing car parking west of Harper Street.Up to seven blue badge parking spaces will be provided on The Calls in place of current pay and display spaces.

<h4 id="isPasted">Plan of New York Street, Kirkgate and the Markets<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/commonplace-digital-limited/image/upload/v1650890998/projects/achezomlsoyydnl9ucrm.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib"> </h4><h3 id="isPasted">Meadow Lane</h3><a href="https://leedscitycentretransport.commonplace.is/proposals/meadow-lane-improvements">Click here</a> to find out more about work happening on Meadow Lane.<h3>Bus route changes and diversions</h3>We don&rsquo;t anticipate too much disruption to the bus network during this scheme; however there might be some changes to bus stops. We will update this page and the Metro website and posters will be placed on the relevant stops We&rsquo;ll also be introducing peak-time bus priority controls and temporary bus cameras in the construction zone to ensure that bus timetables are not negatively affected by the construction work.<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qcrJ1CV7Y-4" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>

Find out where you can load and unload your vehicle in the city centre and what different road markings mean for loading.

City centre loading restrictions

<h3>Where can you load and unload in Leeds?</h3>You might be surprised at how many areas you can load and unload your vehicle in the city.Read this handy guide to find out where you can stop off to load and unload goods in Leeds.First, let&rsquo;s be clear on what a loading bay is and when it can be used.<h3 id="isPasted">What is a loading bay?</h3>A loading bay can be used to collect or deliver pre-ordered goods. The bay may operate at certain times and there may also be a limit on how long you can load and unload there &ndash; this information will be displayed on nearby signage so make sure you check to avoid a penalty charge notice.Loading bays will be indicated by road markings or by contrasting paving materials.<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/commonplace-digital-limited/image/upload/v1694169747/projects/5afe9cda2afbe646c5c77b9b/hf2fcmgntgh79uyjsx3t.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib">

<h3 id="isPasted">Who can use a loading bay?</h3>You don&rsquo;t always need to have a goods vehicle to use a loading bay. However, when loading bays are reserved for goods vehicles only it will be displayed on nearby signage.&nbsp;A loading bay may also permit waiting by other vehicles, such as hackney carriages, at certain times and this will be indicated on nearby signage. Loading and unloading is still permitted during these times.<h3 id="isPasted">What is classed as loading and unloading?</h3>Loading and unloading generally involves the delivery and collection of pre-ordered goods, including the checking of goods, completion of paperwork related to the delivery, and payment.Loading and unloading must be a continuous activity and you must move your vehicle as soon as you&rsquo;ve finished &ndash; you can&rsquo;t stay parked after the loading activity is complete, even if it is only a short delivery.&nbsp;<h3>Where else can I load or unload?&nbsp;</h3>In addition to designated loading bays, there are also other areas you can use to load and unload in the city. These are usually indicated by road markings or appropriate signage.Read on to find out what different road markings mean for loading and unloading.<h3 id="isPasted">Kerb Blips</h3>If you look at a kerb, you&rsquo;ll see that they sometimes have rectangular yellow marks on them. These are called &lsquo;blips&rsquo; and may either be displayed as singular or double markings.Single yellow blips indicate that loading and unloading is permitted at the times displayed on nearby signage.&nbsp;Picking up and dropping off passengers is still permitted during the restricted times.&nbsp;<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/commonplace-digital-limited/image/upload/v1694003013/projects/5afe9cda2afbe646c5c77b9b/oliuakx3zca75nrsbrur.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Double blip markings mean that loading and unloading goods is prohibited and you cannot use these to load or unload at any time.Picking up and dropping off passengers is still permitted at times when loading and unloading is prohibited.<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/commonplace-digital-limited/image/upload/v1694002344/projects/5afe9cda2afbe646c5c77b9b/av3kqmvforbdzs3qimm0.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Image of a kerbside with single double blip markings">Where there are no yellow blip markings on the kerbs, loading is generally permitted at any time, unless there are other restrictions in place like bus stop clearways, single or double red lines, or white zig-zag markings on the kerbside.Pedestrian and cycle zones can also be used for loading at the times specified on the signs at the entry to the zone.&nbsp;<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/commonplace-digital-limited/image/upload/v1694003032/projects/5afe9cda2afbe646c5c77b9b/n98mjayaipoo0s8mondz.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib">

<h3 id="isPasted">What about single or double yellow lines?</h3>Single yellow lines indicate that waiting is not allowed during the times indicated on nearby signage.Double yellow lines indicate that waiting is not allowed at any time.&nbsp;Although single and double yellow lines indicate waiting restrictions, you can still load and unload on them unless there are accompanying loading restrictions (such as those indicated by double blip markings).&nbsp;<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/commonplace-digital-limited/image/upload/v1694003234/projects/5afe9cda2afbe646c5c77b9b/kbecvqauhojtmfjyvjyh.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib">In Leeds, a maximum of 20 minutes is permitted for loading and unloading on yellow lines. However, you should only park for as long as necessary.Enforcement officers will wait for 5 minutes before issuing a ticket to vehicles on yellow lines: this is to make sure you&rsquo;re seen delivering or picking up items. If there&rsquo;s no evidence of loading or unloading whilst on a yellow line, you may receive a penalty charge notice.<h3>What do other markings mean for loading and unloading?</h3>Loading is always prohibited in bus stop clearways, which are marked with a thick yellow line along the kerbside and dashed yellow lines around the bus stopping area.&nbsp;<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/commonplace-digital-limited/image/upload/v1694003292/projects/5afe9cda2afbe646c5c77b9b/zlsa6ewbvppp6wi6z1rk.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Loading is always prohibited on the white zig-zag markings along the kerbside at the entrance and exit of controlled pedestrian crossings. Controlled crossings give priority to pedestrians or cyclists crossing the road, such as zebra and pelican crossings.<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/commonplace-digital-limited/image/upload/v1694003354/projects/5afe9cda2afbe646c5c77b9b/bff5pc8vsb4nk8g1hazu.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Loading is not permitted on the yellow zig-zag markings marked along the kerbside at the entrances to schools at the times when the school keep clear area is in operation.&nbsp;<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/commonplace-digital-limited/image/upload/v1694003413/projects/5afe9cda2afbe646c5c77b9b/z7ywrjpu1sd0dieya6nq.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Single red lines indicate that stopping a vehicle, including for loading and unloading, is prohibited during the times indicated on nearby signage.Double red lines indicate that stopping a vehicle, including for loading and unloading, is always prohibited.<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/commonplace-digital-limited/image/upload/v1694003474/projects/5afe9cda2afbe646c5c77b9b/mkmptc4pb7bzlkcjwe1v.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib">We hope this handy guide helps when loading and unloading in Leeds. If you have any questions, please get in touch with the Connecting Leeds team by emailing&nbsp;<a href="mailto:connectingleeds@leeds.gov.uk">connectingleeds@leeds.gov.uk</a>

In autumn 2021, Leeds City Council consulted on highways improvements around Leeds City Square. The scheme aims to reduce the volume of traffic in City Square, while maintaining access to key destinations via other appropriate routes. The closure of City Square to general traffic will enable public transport, walking, cycling and public realm plans to be realised in the city. Following on from our highway works, a new public space will be created. <a href="https://leedscitysquare.commonplace.is/">Find out more about the scheme here</a> .<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/commonplace-digital-limited/image/upload/v1643797194/projects/leedscitycentretransport/5733368e-ce97-4074-92b3-40ab79068862.jpg" />