Revealed: Economic plan aims to create 36,000 new jobs in Leeds City Region

The new economic plan for the Leeds City Region has been unveiled, showing 10 ‘big impact’ initiatives that will transform the economy and create thousands of extra jobs over the next 20 years.

The Strategic Economic Plan sets out how the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and West Yorkshire Combined Authority (CA) will create an additional 35,700 jobs for local people over the next 20 years, and grow the City Region economy at a faster rate than the national average.

The revised plan features 10 ‘big impact’ initiatives that the LEP and CA will deliver with partners from the public and private sectors and government. These include the aim for a “Metro-style” public transport network allowing people to travel across the City Region easily and affordably by bus and rail through smart ticketing and clear, straightforward pricing covering all forms of public transport.

Building on recent successes in increasing the City Region’s share of inward investment, and recent growth in the region’s data security and digital sectors, the plan also details an ambition of making the City Region a leading centre for tech jobs and talent.

Meanwhile reducing the risk of flooding to homes, communities and businesses through innovative use of the natural environment is another top priority.

Roger Marsh OBE, chair of the LEP, said: “Our revised Plan sets out the initiatives that will take us on the next stage of our journey towards making the City Region not just self-sufficient, but an above average contributor to the national economy.

“It is unacceptable to me that in 2016 there are still so many people in our region living in disadvantage, which is why we want to balance higher levels of business growth with measures to ensure everyone in the City Region has the opportunity of a good job and a good life. The focus of our Plan is not just growth for growth’s sake but good growth that enables all of our communities to feel the benefits of a strong economy.

“This plan sharpens our focus on delivering that ambition – through the £2bn devolved investment we’ve already secured, and the full devolution we are negotiating with government. We’ve already achieved a great deal through effective local leadership and partnership working, but transforming our economy will require us to be persistent, patient, and purposeful. By refocusing our priorities in line with the changing economic climate we believe we’re putting ourselves in the driving seat of economic growth within the Northern Powerhouse and indeed the country as a whole.”

Cllr Peter Box, chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, commented: “The work of the Combined Authority, LEP and its partner councils to date illustrates what can be achieved through locally determined priorities, local leadership and local partnership working.

“Through the Growth Deal, European funding settlement and other public and private sector investment the LEP and CA have brought around £2bn extra funding into the City Region. As a result, we’re on track to create 35,700 extra jobs over the next 20 years and make the City Region a near £100bn economy by 2036. If government agrees to match our ambition for a meaningful devolution deal, we can go even further and create a genuine Northern counterweight to London and the South East.”

The new Strategic Economic Plan builds on an earlier LEP plan which, in 2014, secured a £1bn Growth Deal with government, which included “gainshare” arrangements for transport only recently matched by other city regions in their devolution deals.

The outlined aim in the Strategic Economic Plan is to grow the City Region economy at a rate above the national average – making the City Region an overall contributor to the UK economy.

Through the £125m LEP investment made between 2011-15 the LEP and CA will, by 2020, have created 3,200 additional jobs and £1.4bn in extra economic growth for the City Region. 4,300 businesses have been supported in that time, unlocking half a billion pounds of private sector investment.

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