Step forward for Cottam Parkway
Plans have been submitted for the £15m railway station build project, which would see the redevelopment of a 36-acre site in northwest Preston.
Lancashire County Council wants to build a new railway station called Cottam Parkway, which would sit between Lea and Cottam, on the Blackpool to Preston line.
The station is planned to feature a 2,292 sq ft station building, a forecourt, two platforms, a footbridge over the railway, 234 car parking spaces, and associated infrastructure on land off Lea Lane and Sidgreaves Lane.
The station building would feature a ticket hall and office, waiting room, staff facilities, a plant room, and WCs.
There would also be several transport-related components to the project, including a new public highway access road of around 1km stretching from the Cottam Link Road to Lea Road, a bus gate at the junction with Lea Road, segregated cycle and pedestrian tracks along both Sidgreaves Lane and the new access road, and a new bridge over the Lancaster Canal.
The diversion of a public right of way, a water attenuation pond and other landscape and ecological mitigation areas, and a temporary plant storage area are also proposed, according to the planning application. The station would be fully accessible, with a footbridge, lifts, electric charging points in the car park, and bike storage space.
The site is currently used for agricultural purposes.
The new station is intended to provide park-and-ride for commuters and serve new residential areas, as well as the wider areas of Fylde and Wyre, linking with the Preston Western Distributor Road Scheme, and ultimately improving travel connections to Preston, Blackpool and Manchester, and further afield.
The county council had said in June it expected to submit a planning application this year, with a view to starting construction next year for a period of around 18 months. The targeted aim as of June was to open in 2023/24, and the estimated contract value is £15m, according to council documents.
A spokesman for Lancashire County Council told Place North West: “Our intention is to work directly with Network Rail on the design and build of the station.”
Cllr Charlie Edwards, cabinet member for highways and transport at Lancashire County Council, said: “The planning application is a big step forward in delivering this new railway station, which will open up new opportunities for people and be a gateway to other parts of the region.
“We’ve made some important changes to the design since we announced the plans. We’ve added native scrubs, trees and native species-rich grassland on a field near the station to provide an overall boost to biodiversity from this scheme and help wildlife, which will also give a 10% biodiversity net gain for the project.
“We’re already in talks with the Department for Transport and rail operators to get as many services as possible serving the station.”
The project is being funded through the Department for Transport’s Transforming Cities Fund and the Preston, South Ribble and Lancashire City Deal.
The planning application is with Preston City Council under reference number 06/2022/1151.
Site drawing of the proposed railway station. Credit: via planning documents
Given the drive elsewhere to reduce/remove staffed ticket offices and replace with ticket machines, is there a need for a ticket office and staff room?
By Drew
@Drew Cottam and Lea is a very populated area these days and is quite some way from the centre of Preston, so guess there’s a need.
By SW
This is good news. There is a great need to increase the use of public transport and the removal of the need to travel into the centre of city (Preston) before commencing a rail journey must be a significant step in the right direction. My only concern is that the car parking charges need to be pitched at a level that encourages the maximum use of this new facility. A perceived high charge can put people off, even though the actual charge may be reasonable or even good value when all aspects are considered.
By K