Help shape plans to improve public transport, walking, cycling, and public space on the eastern side of Leeds city centre

People are being invited to feedback on current issues, improvements they would like to see around St. Peter’s Street, York Street, Eastgate, Duke Street, Kirkgate, Crown Point Road, Marsh Lane and East Street, and which changes they would like to see prioritised.

This area of Leeds is important for people travelling into and out of the city, with many integral and busy bus routes passing through here. The area is home to important leisure, cultural and educational facilities, as well as Leeds bus station, and has a large and growing residential population, making it a key area for people using the bus, walking, cycling, and travelling by car.

Current issues in the area

• Between 2014 and 2024, there were 260 road related casualties in the area, including 32 serious casualties and three fatalities.
• During peak times over 1,700 car journeys are made per hour along St Peter's Street, leading to congestion around the bus station. This impacts bus journey times and reliability, often causing delays to the 69 different bus services that travel through the east side of the city.
• The area is a popular route for pedestrians, with over 3,500 pedestrians crossing York Street daily. The current road layout makes it difficult for people walking, wheeling, and cycling to access the city centre safely.
• The area currently lacks quality public space and outdoor green areas, making it uninviting for people to spend time there.
• The cycle network is incomplete, with a link to the south missing.

The future project will align with Leeds City Council’s broader goals of reducing carbon emissions, promoting sustainable travel, and supports Vision Zero, a strategy which aims to eliminate road deaths and serious injuries in Leeds by 2040.

Improving public transport and active travel options aims to reduce congestion and make it easier for everyone to get around, including those in private vehicles.

The council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority will use feedback to develop plans for safer ways of travelling for everyone and more welcoming public spaces. These plans will go out to further public consultation with the intention of funding a scheme from the Transport for City Regions fund 2027-2032.

Councillor Tom Hinchcliffe, Leeds City Council’s executive member for transport and planning, said:

“This is an important step towards a transport system that prioritises efficient public transport and supports all forms of travelling, making it easier and safer for people to get around the city.

“Public spaces are there to be used and enjoyed by everyone, and it's important that we make these spaces welcoming, accessible and well connected.

"We urge everyone that travels through this area — whether you walk, cycle, drive, or take the bus - to take part in the consultation and share your views. By sharing your experience of travelling in the area, we’ll be able to make the right improvements to make it a safer, more welcoming space for everyone.”

Councillor Eleanor Thomson, Deputy Chair of the Combined Authority’s Weaver Network Board, said:

“By making roads safer and improving facilities for pedestrians, bus users and cyclists, we are helping more people choose greener and healthier ways to travel.

“We want to hear from everyone that uses this route to help us build a better-connected region that works for all.”

Have your say before 11.59pm on Tuesday 17 November:

1. Find out more and complete a short survey

2. Attend a drop-in event, see the project boards, chat to a member of the team and fill in an online or paper survey. There are five drop-in events:

• Leeds City bus station, York Street, Leeds, LS2 7HU, Wednesday 21 October, 3pm-6pm 
• Leeds City bus station, York Street, Leeds, LS2 7HU, Thursday 22 October, 3pm-6pm 
• Community Room, 1 The Lane, Saxton Gardens, LS9 8HQ, Wednesday 28 October, 3pm-7pm 
• Leeds City College, 25 Eastgate, Leeds, LS2 7LY, Tuesday 3 November, 10:30am – 3pm (Student and staff only)
• Leeds City College, 25 Eastgate, Leeds, LS2 7LY, Thursday 5 November, 10:30am - 3pm (Student and staff only)

3. Request a paper survey and freepost it back to us. Email or phone us for a paper survey on connectingleeds@leeds.gov.uk or 0113 336 8868.