Janine GriffithsLeeds City Council has set out a proposal for a £30 million transport upgrade designed to improve travel between the city centre and St James’s University Hospital.
The plan has been submitted to the West Yorkshire Combined Authority through the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement. If funding is approved, construction could begin in August 2026 with completion expected in Autumn 2027.
The scheme focuses on Burmantofts Street and Beckett Street, two key roads that serve the hospital. Proposals include new bus lanes in both directions, upgraded walking routes and fully separated cycling space connecting the hospital with the city centre. The council says the aim is to create more reliable bus journeys at busy times while encouraging people to choose sustainable transport.
Safety forms a major part of the project. Council data shows that between 2017 and 2023, 67 casualties were recorded on the route, including 13 serious injuries and one fatality. The planned redesign of junctions, cycle tracks and pedestrian space is intended to reduce risks for everyone using the area.
Parts of the road would be widened to improve traffic flow, and a new bus lane would operate throughout the day. The changes are expected to support nearby communities including Burmantofts, Lincoln Green, Richmond Hill and Harehills by offering smoother and safer travel for residents, workers and visitors.
Funding has been identified through the transport settlement and now awaits final approval.
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