PLANS to redevelop Bradford Forster Square railway station have received a thumbs-up from the public.

Feedback from a consultation on the proposals by Bradford Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Network Rail and train operator Northern show the vast majority of respondents approve.

Improvements would include the replacement of the existing station building, lift and staircase tower to Cheapside and Manor Row. The new, larger building would incorporate the arches behind the station and new ‘pods’ would be installed in the old railway arches to provide extra facilities.

Funded through the Combined Authority’s West Yorkshire-plus Transport Fund, the scheme would create better access to the city centre and the nearby Broadway shopping centre.

Bradford Council carried out the consultation in December last year, at which point the scheme was described as a £17m revamp.

Station users rated the need for toilets and heated waiting rooms as top priority with cash machines and a shop or newsagent also popular. Passengers also supported the proposal for a green space or landscaped area behind platform three.

Overall, 86 per cent of respondents either approved or strongly approved of the proposals.

Coun Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s executive member for regeneration, planning and transport, said: “It is heartening to see that the results of the consultation pretty much matches the proposals.

“The next step is to appoint a design and build contractor who will work with the Council to develop the proposals further including preparation of a planning application for the new station early in the New Year.”

Over the coming months, we will carry out a further consultation exercise to ensure people have the opportunity to feed their ideas in to this major regeneration project which is just one of a number of exciting developments all coming online within the same 18 months period.

Coun Kim Groves, Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Transport Committee, said the plans support economic growth and job creation by improving transport links to the city centre, and provide an “impressive and welcoming gateway to Bradford for commuters and visitors.”