Three new stations planned in the east of the city, including a connection to Leeds Bradford Airport

Leeds has announced a £270m package of rail improvements for the city, including three new stations.

The largest of the new stations will be a parkway rail station connecting to Leeds Bradford Airport, alongside two further stations in the east of the city at White Rose shopping centre and office park and Thorpe Park.

The works will be funded through £174m of central government cash and further funding from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and other unnamed private sector investors.

The parkway station will be built on the existing Leeds to Harrogate line and support Leeds Bradford Airport, which is used by 3.5 million passengers a year.

Judith Blake, leader of Leeds City Council, said: “Providing a connection by rail to the airport has long been an ambition for the city and this plan will deliver it in a cost-effective way.”

Meanwhile, masterplanning work for preparing the city for HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail (formerly HS3) services is continuing by a design team team including Hiro Aso, the lead architect behind the redevelopment of King’s Cross in London.