Levelling up: a progress report from Leeds

Two years ago, I wrote about the newly published Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill. At the time, the draft legislation - originally heralded in the 2019 Conservative Party manifesto as the answer to economic imbalances across the UK - was received with scepticism in the context of political hiatus and the Chancellor’s announcement of ‘eye-watering’ and ‘painful’ austerity. 

 

The levelling up objectives revisited 

Following the sooner-than-expected enactment of the legislation in October last year, it is interesting to consider to what extent the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act (LURA) has met, or has potential to meet, its objectives.  

The levelling up agenda began with twelve missions to be achieved by 2030: increased pay, employment and productivity; public investment outside the south-east; London-style public transport connectivity across the country; nationwide broadband; fixing the education gap; skills training; narrowing the life expectancy gap; increasing wellbeing; decreasing inequalities; a rise in first-time homebuyers; crime reduction, and devolution in England. 

Writing soon after the March Budget, I am pleased to say, tentatively, that the Act has facilitated the potential to make a real difference here in Leeds. 

While the majority of these objectives are yet to be met, the most important building block in now in place – devolution. Public transport connectivity is finally becoming a very real possibility and this (combined with other initiatives and investment) is set to result in economic growth. 

 

Transport-led regeneration 

In March this year, the strategic case for West Yorkshire’s Mass Transit Phase 1 was considered by West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA). The proposal maps the first of four phased corridor projects to be delivered by 2040. These are East Leeds, South Leeds to Dewsbury, Bradford to Leeds and Bradford to Dewsbury. Over time, it is intended that the new tram network will extend further, to Pontefract, Wakefield, Halifax and Huddersfield.  

The creation of a greener, more inclusive and better connected transport system will undoubtedly support economic development. The benefit to the business community, specifically those business located on the new routes, will be considerable. And so too will be impact on local communities: it is projected that 675,000 people within the top 20% most deprived communities within West Yorkshire will benefit from significantly improved public transport. 

There have been some concerns about the proposed route, primarily that it does not link the airport and other some neighbourhoods which were crying out for better connections. But hopefully this is just the start of a longer term investment in the region – which, overall, is pleased to finally have a strategic transport proposal.  

 

An investment in economic growth 

Another key component in Leeds’ journey towards levelling up is the announcement in the March Budget of A vision for Leeds: a decade of city centre growth and wider prosperity.  

Again the product of WYCA, together with Leeds City Council and the Department for Levelling Up, the document, the proposals include: 

• A new Leeds Transformational Regeneration Partnership, bringing together national, regional and local government to deliver the vision and unlock the delivery of up to 20,000 new homes. 
• Plans for transformational regeneration across six key city centre neighbourhoods: Mabgate, Eastside & Hunslet Riverside, South Bank, Holbeck, West End Riverside and the Innovation Arc. 
• Investment in transport infrastructure to revolutionise connectivity across West Yorkshire.
• Recognition of cultural anchor institutions for regeneration and growth in Leeds, including the British Library North and National Poetry Centre.  

These proposals are at an early stage. But are good news for our city and wider region because they clearly recognise its substantial untapped potential.  

Carter Jonas has been closely involved in several of the projects referred to in the Government document, including the Old Medical School, a Grade II* listed Victorian building which is being redeveloped following the opening of a new pathology lab at St James’ University Hospital and The British Library North, which aims to deliver a new 8,000m2 British Library facility in a Grade I listed building, Temple Works, within the South Bank area of the city. We look forward to seeing the benefit of these, and other schemes as development inevitably picks up pace. 

 

Addressing the housing crisis 

In common with most of the country, West Yorkshire has a housing shortage. This has been compounded by frustrations within the planning system which have stalled development and impacted affordability, both in the sale and rental sectors.  

But the commitment to deliver up to 20,000 new homes is genuinely deliverable, partly because communities the north are generally in favour of suitable, sustainable growth. Furthermore, the Mass Transit system will open up new inner city brownfield sites and make out-of-town schemes more viable, while also giving landowners greater confidence in releasing land for development.  

 

The importance of devolved decision-making 

There is no question that the West Yorkshire Combined Authority will be the main facilitator of economic growth. One of the key components of ‘levelling up’, devolution has strengthened the powers of the WYCA. In May 2021, Tracy Brabin was elected Mayor of West Yorkshire and together, the Mayor and WYCA have already demonstrated that they can provide the comprehensive overview necessary to enable region-wide discussions, joined up thinking and a strong force with which to lobby Government.  

 

So is levelling up being delivered in Leeds? 

The announcements to date are just a small step in the long process of bringing greater prosperity to the north. But devolution, a transformative public transport system and funding for homes, neighbourhoods, cultural investment and a regeneration partnership are the blocks upon which levelling up can succeed  in the medium to long term.  

Invariably there will be challenges, not least in relation to inadequacies in the planning system and a severe shortage in local authority funding. But 2024 has already seen some significant commitments to the north’s untapped potential and I look forward to it being realised.