How tram links will help Elland Road and Leeds reach their potential: Jonathan Morgan
UKREiiF (The UK’s Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum) is a setting where ambitious civic announcements are made, and this year was no different. The announcement of a Mayoral Development Zone for Leeds’ South Bank, with the ambition to support the creation of 20,000 homes, new offices and thousands of jobs, was a significant moment.
For those of us who live and work in Leeds, this is exactly the type of ambition we want to see. Leeds has enormous potential, and the transformation of the city centre over the past two decades has been one of the great regeneration stories in the north of England.
But ambition must now be matched with delivery - what does this announcement really mean for the South Bank?
The 20,000 homes identified within the vision are made up largely of schemes that have already been planned, promoted or are at various stages of development. Projects such as Aire Park, South Village, Meadow Lane, Sky Gardens, South Village and Sweetfields are all important components of the future of the city, but they are not new ideas created by the MDZ.
That does not mean the initiative is unnecessary - a coordinated approach between the public sector, investors and developers is valuable. It can help remove barriers, bring organisations together and create the confidence needed to deliver major regeneration.
However, we should recognise that the hard work of city-centre and fringe regeneration has been underway for years. The challenge now is not simply identifying opportunities; it is creating the conditions that allow those opportunities to become reality.
For me, the most important issue facing Leeds is transport. The ambitions around Elland Road are exciting. The creation of a new neighbourhood with around 2,000 homes, alongside commercial and community facilities, could be transformational for south Leeds. But it will only happen if we finally address the missing piece of the puzzle, which is mass transit.
The proposed tram connection from St James’s Hospital to the White Rose Centre, via Elland Road, is not a luxury or an added benefit. It is the infrastructure that will determine whether this vision can be delivered.
Leeds has spent decades discussing mass transit and spent around £50m exploring different solutions. We are now at a point where the city cannot afford to waste another generation discussing ambition without action.
The lesson we can learn from successful cities around the world is that homes and neighbourhoods on the edges of established cities can only genuinely be unlocked by connectivity. Transport does not follow development; it enables it.
The MDZ and New Town status provide Leeds with a unique opportunity. They create momentum and send a powerful signal that this city is ready to grow.
But the real legacy will not be measured by announcements made at conferences. It will be measured by the homes built, communities created and infrastructure delivered.
Leeds has ambition. The private sector has the appetite. Now we need the transport network that allows our city to grow and reach its full potential.
Jonathan Morgan is a partner at Leeds based Zenko City Living and Leeds city living specialist.