Transformation work to start around the Corn Exchange

New visuals and plans have been released by Connecting Leeds showing how the area around the Corn Exchange could look after a £25million makeover.

With over 100 buses passing through the area every hour, it is a key gateway for people visiting or working in the city. It is also home to one of the city’s most iconic buildings and is a lively vibrant hub for nightlife.

The area no longer meets the transport and economic needs of the city – it is usually congested, particularly in rush hour and buses are regularly delayed.

Plans were consulted on in 2019 and feedback from the public was generally positive with respondents particularly impressed with the provision for safer cycle ways, wider pavements, bus and pedestrian priority, more greenery, improved public realm and upgraded bus shelters.

Work will now start on Monday 24 August to remove the central islands on Duncan Street. This will allow us to keep traffic flowing in both directions when we start work on the main scheme.

The first phase of work will focus on the immediate streets around the Corn Exchange. Key aspects include the closure of Call Lane to through traffic, a new cycle way on Lower Briggate and wider pavements outside the Corn Exchange.

The safety of the public and staff will be a priority throughout the construction work and steps will be taken to ensure compliance with social distancing measures on site. Workplace policies will be kept under review to reflect the latest government advice.

The entire Corn Exchange scheme is expected to be complete by winter 2021.

Leeds City Council's Executive Member for Climate Change, Transport and Sustainable Development, Councillor Lisa Mulherin, said:

“After careful consultation with the public on this scheme, I am delighted to see it is finally getting underway.

“We have worked very closely with our partners over the past few months to ensure that the feedback we received from the public was analysed carefully and we attempted to incorporate as much of that as possible in to the new plans.

“This scheme is a significant development in the council’s commitment to be carbon neutral by 2030. It includes a number of plans such as pavement widening, protected cycle ways and improved public realm, all of which we hope will encourage active travel in the city.

“We want to stress that we are working hard to create many more new routes which offer improved safety for people to walk and cycle, offering convenience and championing health and wellbeing for our residents.