Proposed improvements to the road links to and a rail link for Leeds Bradford Airport would be game changing, not just for the airport and the two cities it’s named after, but for the whole of the Yorkshire region.

That’s the view of LBA media relations manager Phil Forster, who says the new road proposals – which could cost up to £100m – and railway station are a vital strand in the ongoing development of the airport.

It is part of an overall strategy that will see numbers increase by three million in just over ten years will begin later this year. And it is not just the airport that believes the changes are vital – a leading member of West Yorkshire Combined Authority has also backed the project, saying it is vital if the region is to have a global airport.

But Phil stressed that as part of the process, it was absolutely vital that the airport acted as good neighbours to those who live and work around it, which was the consultation was so important.

The options for road improvements include t wo proposed routes for a bypass to ease traffic pressures in Rawdon and Yeadon, or expansion and improvement works at existing junctions.

The new parkway station would be built on the Leeds-Harrogate railway line, providing better rail access to the airport.

The station would have a regular shuttle bus link the terminal building and would also have a park and ride facility for journeys in to Leeds or North Yorkshire, and improve accessibility to existing and proposed businesses in North West Leeds.

The next stage will see the project team reviewing all consultations, before preparing a final report which will have recommendations on the way forward. Phil said it was imperative that the transport infrastructure is improved to allow the airport to grow as it should.

“This will be a game changer for all of Yorkshire, not just the airport and Leeds and Bradford,” he said.

“We need to do this if we want to grow the airport. It will link the two big gateways in Yorkshire – LBA and Leeds Station, the biggest station outside London. That is vital for the whole region to grow.

“Transport plays a pivotal role in growing successful regions. We want potential investors to be able to fly into the airport and then have a seamless journey into the city.”

He was confident that the project would be able to get underway soon, with the process seeming to be on track.

“We are making really good progress with this development, and we believe we are truly getting there in terms of getting the plans off the ground,” Phil said.

He stressed that they wanted to make sure that those concerned about the development also had their say, which was why the consultation process – and making people aware of that process – was so important.

“We want to be good neighbours; we take our community role very seriously. That’s why it’s so important that people have had their say.”

Phil said that they would be using local firms for the construction work wherever possible once the scheme has been given the green light.

THE THREE ROAD OPTIONS ARE:

OPTION A: Building a new road and footway/cycleway from the A65, running along the eastern edge of the airport before joining the A658 to the north.

OPTION B: Building a new road and footway/cycleway following the same initial route as Option A, from the A65 but running to the south west of the airport, joining the A658 before the tunnel under the runway.

OPTION C: Upgrading the existing A65 and A658 around Rawdon and Yeadon to the airport. This would see junctions upgraded and, where needed, some localised road widening to deliver the junction improvements.

“I’m really optimistic about where we are. I can see the progress that is being made. And a lot of that is due to the very successful partnership we have between the private and public sector. Everyone is pulling in the same direction.”

Councillor Kim Grove, chair of West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s transport committee, said: “It is crucial Leeds Bradford gets this investment and we are trying to do everything we can to make sure Yorkshire has a global airport.

“In terms of economic growth, this could be absolutely massive. With the growth the airport could be employing 10,000 people by 2030, most of which are employed locally.

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“We have to listen to the public consultation and local people need to be at the heart of this consultation to give people what they want.”

Chief executive of Leeds Bradford, David Laws, said the improvements are crucial in attracting major airlines to the airport.

“This is vital not just for the airport, but for Yorkshire as a whole. The rail station makes access to the airport so much easier, and stops us clogging the roads up for local residents.

“Having a railway station it allows us to go and talk to the really big airlines about serving Yorkshire, and you need this things to make the bigger airlines sit up and take notice.

“When I was at Newcastle before, we put the Metrolink station in and that produced a million extra passengers and eventually resulted in the daily service from the Middle East, so why not have that here in Yorkshire as well?.

“What this will do for Yorkshire as a whole with inward tourism and inward investment, this will help attract bigger companies to relocate into the Leeds City Region. This will take us to a different level.

“If you look at Manchester, Newcastle, Birmingham; they all have train stations and all have the big carriers into the Middle East and America, so why not Yorkshire too?”

Phil Forster said the airport was still very much a big player in the leisure market – but it was also important that it is seen as a leading business airport as well.

The work on the transport infrastructure, along with the ongoing development of the main terminal building, were vital parts of both of those markets, said Phil.

And he asked passengers using the airport to be aware of the ongoing work and bear it in mind when travelling.

“The airport is changing, and we would ask people to bear with us, particularly over the summer. We will be striving to keep disruption to a minimal, but this is vital work for LBA,” he said.

“It’s all part of our ongoing work to continue to give Yorkshire an airport to be proud of.”