2 August 2007 : A high powered meeting between officials from Northern Rail, Network Rail and Harrogate Borough Council has seen the first positive step towards the re-development of the Harrogate railway station.

 

Many people in Harrogate see this as one of the last key sites to be developed in the town centre.  Plans for an improved railway station

form part of the borough council's adopted development brief for this area of Station Parade, which supports the relocation of the railway station to a new integrated transport interchange adjacent to the existing bus station.

 

Network Rail and Northern Rail have appointed a project manager to take on the task of ensuring the design specification for the station quarter is co-ordinated and advanced.  That will involve working closely with the developer, Caddicks, as well as Harrogate Borough Council.

 

The re-development will result in an improved rail-bus interchange complemented by a high quality development likely to include a mix of retail shops and residential accommodation.

 

Councillor Mike Gardner, Leader of Harrogate Borough Council said:  "This sort of development can never be achieved overnight but it is something we have been working on for a number of years.  This first meeting between all parties was very encouraging.  It signals a commitment from Network Rail and means we can start the ball rolling. 

 

"We are also encouraging Network Rail and the Department for Transport to use the Leeds Harrogate York line as a demonstration project for tram-train technology.  Upgrading the line will enable us to assess the impact that major investment in the rail network will have in cutting traffic congestion and will complement the new interchange perfectly."  ENDS