Plans for more homes, jobs and investment in West Yorkshire unveiled at UKREiiF

Ambitious plans to attract investment and boost growth through better jobs, innovation and transport could see more than 30,000 new homes delivered across West Yorkshire, it was revealed at a major conference this week.

Senior leaders from Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield showcased priority plans at UKREiiF, the international housing and infrastructure conference held in Leeds from Tuesday 19 to Thursday 21 May.

The plans highlighted the success of ongoing and future developments and schemes across West Yorkshire which if achieved, could help add £26 billion to the UK economy. These include:

•    The announcement of a Mayoral Development Zone in Leeds City Centre, which will drive forward the delivery of around 20,000 homes at Leeds South Bank.

•    The transformation of key sites through the redevelopment of brownfield land to deliver schemes such as Bradford City Village, which will see the delivery of 1,000 new homes.

•    Investment opportunities and ambitions for regeneration and development in Calderdale.

•    Strategic sites in Kirklees, which are helping position West Yorkshire as a global hub for health technology.

•    The promotion of Wakefield as an attractive and practical location for businesses looking to establish themselves in the North of England.
The conference, held in Leeds for the fifth consecutive year, welcomed more than 16,000 people. Investors and business leaders heard how West Yorkshire’s economy is outperforming the national average, how its regeneration opportunities are nationally and internationally significant in their scale, and how its track-record of accelerating delivery through strong partnership working has helped to create a stronger, better-connected region. 

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire said:

"This is a fantastic moment for West Yorkshire – our bold ambitions show exactly what we’re doing to make our region the best place to work, live and visit.

“Working in partnership, we’re creating new opportunities for growth, regeneration and innovation, helping us to continue boosting our economy and attracting investment.

“This will make a real difference to people’s lives, supporting the creation of thousands more jobs, tens of thousands of new homes and new ways of working to build a stronger, greener, brighter West Yorkshire that works for all.”

Throughout the week, each local authority across West Yorkshire showcased what they have to offer to investors and developers. These include:

Bradford

Bradford City Council highlighted its ambitious plans through the City Village programme that will see the delivery of 1,000 new homes, as well as green spaces, shops, cafés, and restaurants in the city centre. The Southern Gateway scheme, which will be boosted by the region’s investments in rail and a mass transit system, will unlock a further 5,000 new homes.

The city’s new station will form part of the transformational £45 billion Northern Powerhouse Rail scheme that will reduce journey times, improve reliability and boost connectivity to Leeds, Manchester and beyond. Coupled with plans to bring mass transit to the region by the late 2030’s the City’s improved connectivity will drive economic growth and unlock future jobs.

The £17 million redevelopment of Bradford Forster Square station will create a modern and welcoming gateway with vastly improved facilities, enabling passengers to switch between bus, rail, and future mass transit services.

David Shepherd, Bradford Council’s Strategic Director for Place said:

"What has really shone through has been the energy and momentum that Bradford has. Without a doubt we are viewed as a very progressive city, one of the most progressive in the UK. There is vision and opportunity here, and it is very clear that investors are certainly sensing that now."

Calderdale

Calderdale Council highlighted the exceptional offer of the borough, including its strategically advantageous location, with good transport links and the success of heritage-led regeneration.

As Calderdale’s main town, Halifax plays a vital role in the wider West Yorkshire region. The 10-year Halifax 2036 Place Vision, sets out an ambitious way forward for the town centre, building on its strengths to direct future investment in the town.

In addition to bold future plans and ongoing investment, the Council showcased opportunities for developers to access brownfield sites and build attractive town centre living. This includes the progression of the mixed-use ‘Minster View’ development, which is now on the market. A centrally located 2.5-hectare site near significant heritage buildings and transport hubs, this provides a unique opportunity for urban renewal. 

Councillor Dan Sutherland, Leader of Calderdale Council said:

"We’re ambitious about delivering for Calderdale and I was pleased to be able to attend the UKREiiF conference and highlight the great potential of the borough and the many opportunities available for investment. It was also good to meet existing large local employers who are boosting the economy and showing aspiration and confidence in Calderdale."

Kirklees

Kirklees Council is leading major regeneration across the district, breathing new life into town centres and cultural assets. At the conference, the council showcased investment-ready sites that are supported by an experienced public sector partner with a strong track record of delivery. The council promoted its Our Cultural Heart project, which is set to transform Huddersfield town centre. This flagship project will revitalise six key areas of Huddersfield to create a thriving modern-day town centre.

The council unveiled its vision for the former Gasworks Street site. An exclusive preview of the imminent launch of procurement to appoint a private-sector development partner was given and outlined the council’s ambition to attract private investment with the aim of transforming the site into a new employment hub focused on health innovation, life sciences and advanced manufacturing.

Plans were also highlighted for the Station to Stadium Enterprise Corridor, demonstrating how the council is creating a thriving, connected and enterprising district, improving wellbeing and prosperity through investment in health innovation.
These projects will benefit from the £11 billion TransPennine Route Upgrade (TRU), a major rail improvement programme enhancing connectivity between Manchester, Leeds and York. Huddersfield is a central hub on the TRU route and one of several stations in Kirklees set to undergo significant upgrades. The upgrade works will also see the delivery of over 1,100 new homes planned in Huddersfield.

David Shepherd, Executive Director for Place said:

“UKREiiF 2026 has given us the perfect platform to start conversations that could shape the future of our towns and communities.  
 “Throughout the event, we took part in panel discussions, networking sessions and presentations – all geared towards connecting with investors and developers who want to be part of Kirklees’ story. 

“Whether it’s exploring financial investment, new partnership opportunities, or attracting businesses that want to base themselves in the borough, the event gave us access to the people who share our ambition and can help us turn big ideas into real-world projects.”

Leeds

Mayor Brabin and Leeds City Council Leader Cllr James Lewis announced plans for a new Mayoral Development Zone (MDZ), developed in partnership with the government and Homes England. Subject to approval, the MDZ will bring together local, regional and national partners under a coordinated approach to regenerate the area south of Leeds railway station with proposals to deliver 20,000 new homes at the South Bank - one of the most significant regeneration areas in Europe. The MDZ will help to unlock economic development by ensuring that housing, transport, infrastructure investment and economic growth are delivered in collaboration.
 
A secondary announcement revealed that £16 million of funding has been granted by Homes England to transform derelict brownfield land into a thriving neighbourhood at Leeds South Village. The site would see the delivery of almost 2,000 new homes including 20 per cent of which would be affordable. While speaking at UKREiiF, Chancellor Rachel Reeves also confirmed a multi-million-pound package of funding that will help unlock over 5,000 new homes.
  
Mayor Brabin has formally joined a strategic partnership alongside Leeds City Council and Leeds United Football Club's development partner, The Lowy Family Group, by signing on to the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This agreement reflects a shared commitment to support the delivery of a transformational new district around Elland Road, including 2,500 new homes, workspace, retail, world-class sports facilities and new public spaces.

Councillor James Lewis, Leader of Leeds City Council said:

"This has been a milestone week for Leeds and the wider region. The sheer scale of the announcements we've seen proves that Government, along with our key city partners share our bold vision for regeneration and showcases what can be achieved through a shared, locally led vision.

"From accelerating plans across the South Bank through the Mayoral Development Zone and further confirmed Government funding for key cultural sites, to advancing the transformative works at Elland Road and the surrounding area, we are accelerating our plans for growth and moving quickly towards delivery across a number of nationally significant sites.  This isn't just about the getting the buildings and infrastructure in place - it's about creating vibrant new communities and delivering high quality homes and public spaces, ensuring that the growth of the city benefits everyone."

Wakefield

Wakefield Council showcased plans for a once-in-a-generational transformation of Cathedral Quarter in the city centre. Working with strategic regeneration partner Muse, the project could see the delivery of over 1,000 new homes to meet growing demand, increase footfall to support independent businesses, introduce new public outdoor space while strengthening the local economy and creating jobs.

The council also announced the forthcoming appointment of a Strategic Regeneration Partnership for Castleford. A preferred partner has been identified and will be announced in June to drive transformation at pace and scale through investment, commercial expertise and delivery capacity. This is a clear commitment to transform Castleford into a vibrant, sustainable and distinctive riverside market town that not only retains its existing charm but also attracts new residents, businesses and visitors.

Also highlighted at UKREiiF, the council showed how Wakefield has a strong supply of well-located employment sites, offering investors and developers opportunities to deliver high-quality commercial and industrial developments. This illustrates that the district is a practical, attractive location for businesses looking to grow and establish themselves in the North of England.

Councillor Karl Johnson, Leader of Wakefield Council, said: 

“Wakefield is hugely ambitious – we want to be the best place to do business, invest and grow in the North of England.

“As a local business owner, I know that means we need to take some bold steps to reimagine our places and position ourselves for the future of our economy.

“UKREiiF was a great opportunity to meet developers, employers and investors who share that vision. And to talk to them about how we can help them to innovate and create in our district.
 
“Wakefield is going places and we want you to join us to help unleash our full potential.”

You can find pictures from UKREiiF here:

West Yorkshire Pavillion

Cllr James Lewis, Mayor Tracy Brabin and director of Leeds United Peter Lowy

West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin pictured with Leader of Leeds City Council Cllr James Lewis and Pat Ritchie CBE, Chair of Homes England

Mayor Tracy Brabin speaking