As part of a £7.8 million investment to upgrade Skipton’s transport infrastructure and improve links between the town’s main travel hubs, the Transforming Cities Fund (TCF) Skipton Gateway project aims to make moving around the area easier and safer, providing an accessible and sustainable alternative to car journeys.
You can read about the first part of the project here: https://nyhighways.co.uk/case-studies/tcf-skipton-gateway-project-canal-footpath
The second phase of the project focused on major improvements to the walking route between Skipton Railway Station and Skipton Bus Station.
This stage includes upgrading footpaths and introducing new pedestrian crossings along Black Walk, Cavendish Street, Carleton Street, and Gas Street – all designed to make walking around town safer and more enjoyable.
Working closely with North Yorkshire Council’s Highway Development Service and Align Property Services, NY Highways began work on this part of the project (scheme 4) in July 2025 and completed in March 2026.
The problem
The pedestrian route between Skipton Railway Station and Skipton Bus Station was narrow, difficult to navigate, and frequently dominated by vehicles, making safe movement between the two transport hubs challenging.
Issues such as informal obstructive parking, uneven surfaces, poor lighting, and limited safe crossing points further reduced the appeal of walking and discouraged sustainable travel.
See below for our solution and the results…
The solution
The proposals included widening footways, upgrading paving, and introducing safer, more direct pedestrian crossing points.
Gas Street would be pedestrianised beyond Hird’s Yard, with a new one‑way system helping to reduce vehicle conflicts and give greater priority to people travelling on foot.
On Carleton Street, changes to traffic direction and parking layout would allow for wider footways and a more pedestrian‑friendly environment.
Black Walk, previously a narrow and uninviting route, would be resurfaced and upgraded – a new extended footway would be created to improve movement between the station and the town centre. Access to Morrisons via steps would also be created.
Junction safety would also be enhanced through measures such as a new zebra crossing on Cavendish Street.
The result
The improvements to the route have created a more welcoming, safer and easier‑to‑navigate environment for residents, commuters, students and visitors.
The pedestrianisation of Gas Street, the revised traffic direction on Carleton Street, and the new zebra crossing on Cavendish Street have all significantly enhanced pedestrian safety, making it easier and safer to move around the centre of Skipton on foot.
Black Walk has also been transformed into a more attractive and user‑friendly walking route, strengthening the connection between the station and nearby shopping areas.
North Yorkshire Council praised NY Highways’ work on the project, with Karl Battersby, Corporate Director of Environment, commenting:
“NYH took over the project from the previous proposed contractor and had to deal quickly with a significant number of issues and bring the project back in budget. I couldn’t be more pleased with the scheme. It was delivered to a high standard, professionally managed, on time and actually under budget.”
The project supports wider ambitions to encourage walking and reduce reliance on cars by delivering high‑quality infrastructure that makes active travel the natural choice for short journeys.
These improvements will help accommodate Skipton’s growth, enhance access to education and employment, and contribute to both local and regional commitments to cleaner, low‑carbon travel.
Future plans to further strengthen sustainable travel in Skipton include upgrades to the train station car park, incorporating electric vehicle charging facilities.