West Yorkshire investment Leeds: £230m approved for transport, housing, and business growth across the region

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority has approved £230m in new funding for projects across the region, with Leeds securing over £73m for road and transport improvements alone. The West Yorkshire investment Leeds package, signed off by Mayor Tracy Brabin and the region’s five council leaders today, covers transport, housing, skills, and business infrastructure across Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds, and Wakefield. It builds on a £2bn integrated settlement for West Yorkshire coming in April.

How Leeds Benefits

£73m+ for Roads and Transport

Over £73m was approved today for improvements to Leeds’ road network, including better bus lanes, footpaths, and crossings in Headingley and Armley. This is designed to boost access to some of the city’s busiest areas.

Leeds Bradford Airport Parkway Station

A commitment to a new train station serving Leeds Bradford Airport has been confirmed as part of the pipeline. The Leeds Bradford Airport Parkway station will support the airport’s Vision 2030, which is backed by £200m in private investment and targets seven million passengers a year by 2030 and the creation of up to 5,500 new jobs.

Leeds Innovation Village

A flagship project within the West Yorkshire Investment Zone, Leeds Innovation Village will deliver offices, lab space, housing, and business space. It includes the regeneration of the Old Medical School and is focused on accelerating high-growth sectors including health technology.

South Bank New Town — Up to 13,000 Homes

Identified by the New Town Taskforce as a potential site, up to 13,000 new homes could be built at Leeds South Bank. The new town area would complement ongoing developments including 200 fully affordable homes at Saxton Lane and 185 completed apartments at Regent Street.

Cllr James Lewis, Leader of Leeds City Council, said:

“In Leeds we have unlocked a number of nationally significant growth opportunities that represent one of the most ambitious transformation pipelines in the UK. With a track record of delivering on major infrastructure projects through raising public and private sector finance and through successful collaborations as Team Leeds we know we stand in a strong position.”

Across the Region

The wider West Yorkshire investment Leeds is part of also includes £13m towards Bradford’s City Village programme for 1,000 homes, a £70m new rail station at Elland in Calderdale, a £10.5m bus station at Heckmondwike in Kirklees, and a £60m all-electric bus depot at Newton Bar in Wakefield. A £2bn integrated settlement arriving in April will give the Combined Authority greater flexibility over regional spending.

Why this matters for Leeds

This is real money being committed to specific Leeds projects. Each now has formal Combined Authority backing and sits within the investment pipeline. For developers, investors, and the construction sector in Leeds, this package represents a tangible pipeline of publicly funded work.