Mayoral Development Zone will help Leeds take the next step - Tracy Brabin & James Lewis

We know our communities are crying out for change – for better public transport, delivered more quickly. For well-paying jobs and new opportunities to get into good careers, especially for our young people. For our high streets and local businesses to thrive once again, putting more money into people’s pockets and restoring a feeling of pride in our places

Leeds already has so much going for it. It’s one of the UK’s fastest-growing major cities, with a strong economy, a thriving financial and professional services sector, world-class universities, and a vibrant cultural scene anchored by Leeds United. But we are not complacent, or content with the current momentum. We’re determined to go further, faster, and to set a new standard for how cities can grow.

That is why we are proposing a new Mayoral Development Zone – an ambitious, practical step towards delivering over 20,000 new homes where they’re needed most, and creating a new generation of neighbourhoods that people genuinely want to live, work, visit and spend time in,

This is a landmark moment for Leeds and for the country. For too long, regeneration in cities across the UK has been slowed by fragmented decision-making across different agencies, overcentralised and overbearing governance from the centre, and missed opportunities to bring the private sector on board to unlock much greater investment. Our approach is different. We are bringing together local leadership, national government, Homes England and the private sector all together, behind a single, coordinated plan. One vision, one delivery engine, and one front door for investors. That means greater clarity, greater certainty and faster delivery.

At the heart of this vision is Leeds South Bank, already one of Europe’s largest regeneration areas, and a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape our city centre. From Temple Works and the proposed British Library North on one end, to the Royal Armouries’ Tiltyard development on the other, this is where Leeds will write its next chapter. We are not just building homes – we are creating communities. Green, well-connected neighbourhoods with major new public spaces, flourishing cultural destinations, and thriving commercial hubs for new business.

This isn’t about creating GDP figures that point upwards – it’s about providing homes people can afford, opportunities people can access by good public transport, and places which people feel proud to call home or do business in. That’s why we’ve not just built more affordable homes than at any time since the 2008 financial crisis – we’re also backing our communities with a transformative £2.1bn investment in transport infrastructure across West Yorkshire.

With publicly controlled buses returning to Leeds from 2027, construction of a new mass transit system commencing from 2028, and major new investments in rail and active travel, we are transforming how people move around our region – connecting people to jobs, education and to each other, unlocking growth at scale.

Our Mayoral Development Zone is not just about delivering economic growth for the UK – it’s about delivering opportunity, confidence and a better quality of life for local people.

Tracy Brabin is Mayor of West Yorkshire and Cllr James Lewis, leader of Leeds City Council.