West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin has unveiled a ten-year, £7 billion growth plan, which could support the creation of 33,000 jobs and unlock £26 billion of economic growth.
The West Yorkshire Local Growth Plan would halve the number of people in the region with low or no qualifications, and ensure everyone has quick and reliable access to jobs.
The plan’s implementation will be made possible by a single regional funding settlement from the government in 2026, empowering West Yorkshire to “forge its own future”.
The plan sets out the Combined Authority’s commitment to invest £7 billion targeted at supporting businesses to grow, ensuring people have the skills they need to succeed, building a quick and reliable public transport system, and creating vibrant places with affordable and sustainable homes for all.
The five priorities of the Local Growth Plan are:
- Boosting the region’s fastest growing business sectors, including financial and professional services, advanced manufacturing and engineering, life sciences and health technologies, and the creative industries.
- Supporting small and medium-sized businesses to grow and succeed, with greater access to finance, skills, workspace, innovation, markets, promotion, and a supportive eco-system of public-private partnerships.
- Building a region of learning and creativity, where people of all ages and backgrounds can access the qualifications, skills and employment support they need to secure well-paid work and fulfil their potential.
- Creating a better-connected and integrated transport network, with more reliable and frequent bus services under local control, greater rail capacity to reduce congestion and journey times, and a new tram system fully integrated with bus and rail to connect the entire region.
- Developing thriving places, with warm and affordable homes for all, safer communities free from crime and antisocial behaviour, neighbourhoods resilient to flooding and the impacts of climate change, and greater access to culture, heritage and sport for everyone.
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said:
“Our Local Growth Plan will lay the foundations for the renaissance of our great region, transforming the economy and society of West Yorkshire for future generations.
“By ensuring that everyone has the skills they need to succeed, warm, affordable and sustainable homes, and quick and reliable public transport links they can rely on, we’ll enable the creation of thousands of well-paid jobs and help deliver the nation’s growth mission.
“By harnessing the full potential of devolution with a single funding settlement, West Yorkshire will finally be able to forge its own future, and we will create a brighter region that works for all.”
Mandy Ridyard, Business Advisor to the Mayor of West Yorkshire, said:
“Our diverse and dynamic businesses form the bedrock of our £66 billion regional economy, and their growth is essential to the delivery of this plan.
“Ensuring they have the skills, investment and access to markets they need to deliver on their business plans will be key to that growth.
“Successful businesses that are growing will help to leverage further investment into our region, creating more well-paid jobs that are instrumental to an inclusive, successful economy.
“With a keen focus on our fastest growing sectors, our new Healthtech & Digital Tech Investment Zone, and further inward investment, we will deliver for the region and the nation.”
