UK’s first solar powered park and ride opens in Leeds

Mott MacDonald has undertaken the detailed design of the UK’s first solar-powered park and ride, which recently opened in Stourton, Leeds.

A major piece of the Leeds Public Transport Investment Programme, the park and ride will provide 1,200 vehicle spaces and help cut carbon emissions, improve air quality, and reduce congestion on routes into Leeds city centre. It is part of wider plans to see the Leeds city region become a net-zero carbon economy by 2038.

Working alongside lead contractor BAM Nuttall, Mott MacDonald completed the detail design of the parking facility and offsite highways works, as well as coordinating the design of the terminal building (by NPS Group) and on-site smart energy grid (by EVOEnergy). A solar canopy covering a third of the site will power the terminal building, electric car charging points and street lighting. The panels can generate up to one megawatt of renewable energy with excess fed back to the grid to power local homes. The facility will be serviced by fleet of zero-emission electric buses, providing green transport to the city centre.

Extensive landscaping using raised planters, plants, hedges and evergreen trees have been used to promote a clean and green site. Mature trees have been replaced by a ratio of greater than 3:1 while hundreds of additional young saplings have also been planted.

“We’re really proud to have delivered such an ambitious scheme working as a team with BAM Nuttall and Leeds City Council,” said Jon Akers, Mott MacDonald Project Director. “We’re facing a climate emergency, which requires real, practical action. Green infrastructure has a key role to play in getting to net-zero and we’re delighted to be able to help Leeds City Council meet their carbon objectives.”

As well as helping to reduce carbon emissions, the Stourton park and ride will bring with it additional benefits for the local area. “The park and ride will provide affordable and convenient public transport options into the city for residents of nearby communities. This means greater access to employment and education,” said Sue Tilbrook, Mott MacDonald Eastern Transport Sector Lead. “At the same time, fewer cars in the city centre will allow the council to create a more liveable city: a place where people want to spend their time.”

The Leeds Public Transport Investment Programme will invest an unprecedented £270 million in the transport network of the city, £90 million of which is set aside to fund bus infrastructure improvements.

Mott MacDonald is acting as designer to BAM Nuttall, which has been commissioned to deliver an ambitious series of bus infrastructure improvements made up of highway improvements, public transport priority measures, improved active mode provision and new and extended park and ride facilities.