Funding boost expected for delayed railway station

Extra funds are expected to be ploughed into the construction of a delayed railway station project, meaning it could finally be completed almost three years later than planned.

The White Rose Station scheme, between Cottingley and Morley, near Leeds, is about 70% finished, but its entire £26.5m budget has been spent.

Work on the new station, which was originally due to open in 2024, was halted in the same year due to rising costs.

Leaders of West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) are expected to agree extra cash for the scheme, the sum yet to be disclosed, at a meeting next week, which could see the new station opened by January 2027.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, a report to members of WYCA stated that £22m of investment had so far come from the combined authority, with landowner Munroe K, the operator of the White Rose Park, providing £4.5m.

The report said: "Construction has been assessed as approximately 70% complete. The current project spend is £26.5m.

"Therefore, 100% of funding allocated to this project is now spent."

The report also warned of the potential impact further delays to the construction of the White Rose Station would have on the separate TransPennine Route Upgrade (TRU), designed to provide better rail links between towns and cities in the north of England.

"It is understood that the current status of the station and the potential timescales associated with project completion represent a significant risk to the TRU scheme in the area of Cottingley Station," the report stated.

However, ensuring the White Rose Station was open by 2027 "would mitigate any impacts on the TRU operational timescale", it added.

West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin said: "I want to see the station open to passengers as soon as possible as it will improve connectivity to South Leeds, attract significant investment and act as a catalyst for the area's regeneration."

Ms Brabin said if the extra funding for the scheme was agreed, it would "represent a major step towards resuming construction as we work with both the Department for Transport and Network Rail to confirm funding and put in place a delivery partnership".

Members of WYCA are expected to discuss the White Rose Station scheme and the next steps at a meeting on Thursday 8 May.

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