Historic railway station near Harrogate to relaunch as park-and-ride hub

The developer behind a new village community near Harrogate has revealed plans to reopen one of the area’s historic railway stations.

Flaxby Park Ltd has acquired Goldsborough’s former station house and intends to relaunch the site as park-and-ride hub called Flaxby Parkway Station.

Train operator Northern voiced its support for the development in a letter backing the proposals, while Network Rail confirmed there are “no significant technical obstacles”.

It will form part of the wider Flaxby Park scheme, which is delivering thousands of new homes on the village’s disused golf course.

Flaxby Park Ltd acquired the links in 2016. The firm is led by businesswoman and philanthropist Ann Gloag OBE, along with regeneration specialists Chris Musgrave and Trevor Cartner.

The planning application for the development includes 2,750 homes, two primary schools, a retirement village and GP surgery, along with sports facilities and a new village centre. Over 50% of the scheme will be open green space.

It is designed by a team of consultants that includes architects Wildblood Macdonald and transport planning firm Fore Consulting.

Goldsborough Railway Station opened in 1850

Flaxby Park Ltd development director Matt Johnson said: “The transport provision at Flaxby Park is a major feature of our development and acquiring the original station house and securing the support of Northern, are both key milestones in our ambitions to create a new park-and-ride station that will benefit the whole area.

“The station will offer direct rail services to Harrogate, Leeds and York, as well as offering a strategically located park-and-ride service for neighbouring communities and commuters, shoppers and tourists coming off the A1(M).”

The parkway station would also serve employees at Flaxby’s upcoming business and science park, which will support over 2,800 jobs.

Speaking further, Matt said: “The volume of two-way traffic that could potentially use the station throughout the day, will make it highly sustainable and significantly reduce traffic on the A59.

“This is especially true when it’s combined with all the other transport related provisions incorporated into the development, including increased bus services, which could be served by an electric fleet of vehicles, and improving access at the entrance of the site, which already offers easy access to junction 47 of the A1(M).”

Opened in 1850, Goldsborough Railway Station was used by members of the Royal family visiting nearby Goldsborough Hall, marital home of Queen Victoria’s great-granddaughter Princess Mary.

The station closed to passengers in 1958 and to freight services seven years later.