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The City Square improvements, as part of the City Centre Package, are being delivered by Leeds City Council in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
The scheme aims to reduce the volume of traffic in City Square, meaning that more road space can be reallocated to walking and cycling facilities to encourage active and sustainable travel into and from the city centre.
This will support the council and Combined Authority’s objectives of creating a people-first integrated transport network that reduces reliance on car ownership and helps Leeds’ ambition of becoming carbon neutral by 2030.
Photo credit: Leeds List
Construction works around City Square are now complete. Some additional works are required, including the installation of automatic bollards, information boards and seating.
Local residents and businesses will be kept informed about the progress of these works.
View the City Square timeline here.
Construction began in September 2022, following two rounds of public and stakeholder consultation in which the overall response was positive.
Read about the different phases of works below.
Phase 1 of the City Square scheme started in September 2022. Preliminary works included:
Introduction of the City Square bus gate, meaning general traffic cannot access City Square via Bishopgate Street
Phase 2 completed in winter 2022. This involved re-aligning the road on Park Row to create a cycle lane and wider footways.
Phase 3 completed in January 2023. This included King Street and Thirsk Row becoming two-way, a new bus gate on King Street and removing vehicular access to Quebec Street from City Square.
King Street and Thirsk Row changed from one-way northbound to two-way. The southbound bus gate on King Street running from Infirmary Street to Wellington Street and the southbound bus gate on Thirsk Row from Wellington Street to the Aire Street junction is now in operation
Quebec Street is now closed from City Square. Access will be maintained via King Street
Businesses on Wellington Street between Aire Street and Thirsk Row will still be accessible (for deliveries etc.) by King Street, Infirmary Street and looping around City Square
Phase 4 completed in May 2023. This included temporarily removing access to Aire Street to allow for traffic to be reconfigured.
Phase 5 completed in May 2023.
Aire Street changed from one-way southbound to one-way northbound (towards Wellington Street). General traffic should leave Aire Street and turn left onto Wellington Street
The area outside the Queens Hotel is for the Queens Hotel pick-up and drop-off only
General traffic can no longer access City Square from Infirmary Street
The East Parade bus gate (South Parade junction) came into effect from June 2023. A section of East Parade and Calverley Street also became two-way to allow diverted motor vehicles to exit the city centre more easily.
Completed in August 2023. This included installing permanent traffic signals on King Street.
Works to improve pedestrian access from the rail station, cycle routes and the relocation of bus stops.
Works included:
realignment of the southern kerbline, refurbishment of footway areas
new carriageway construction
installation of new bus stop shelters
and changes to four controlled pedestrian crossing facilities within the area