Through partnership we are determined to unleash our region’s full potential and in doing so raise living standards for our communities while making a full contribution to the UK economy.
West Yorkshire is strongest when it works together to deliver for all its communities. Our partnership has grown and strengthened over more than a decade, from the Leeds City Region Leaders Board to the West Yorkshire Combined Authority. In March 2020, that partnership was strengthened even further when the five councils of West Yorkshire agreed the largest ever devolution deal of its kind with the Government.
This historic and transformative £1.8 billion deal includes a Government commitment to support the development of a West Yorkshire Mass Transit System and investment from the Transforming Cities Fund. Other resources available through the deal enable the delivery of the full pipeline of West Yorkshire transport projects submitted in the region’s bid.
The creation of the Mayor of West Yorkshire was made possible through this devolution deal, which was agreed by West Yorkshire’s five council leaders and the Government in March 2020 and became law in January 2021.
We are determined to unleash our region’s full potential and in doing so raise living standards for our communities while making a full contribution to the UK economy
The deal sets out the new powers, funding and responsibilities which will be transferred from central Government to West Yorkshire. It enables the five councils and the Mayoral Combined Authority to take more decisions on the issues that affect local communities including transport, adult education, skills and jobs, infrastructure, housing and regeneration, and the region’s economic recovery.
The proposals within the deal were used to inform an eight-week public consultation carried out by the West Yorkshire councils and the Combined Authority over the summer 2020 — the largest ever public consultation on English regional devolution with over 4,400 responses. Most of the people who participated were supportive of the proposals.
The agreement, the biggest ever of its kind at the time, includes a Government commitment to support the development of a West Yorkshire Mass Transit System and investment from the Transforming Cities Fund which will enable the delivery of the full pipeline of West Yorkshire transport projects submitted in the region’s bid.
The deal also gave the Combined Authority and Mayor new powers and funding including:
Further devolution arrangements were announced in the Spring 2024 budget.
The last 12 months have seen tens of thousands of young people receive additional education, more dangerous drivers than ever before brought to justice and new support for victims.
Safer routes to schools and improvements to greenways and towpaths are amongst plans to boost active travel in West Yorkshire.
Housing leaders from across West Yorkshire have come together to accelerate plans for affordable housebuilding in the region.
New figures reveal West Yorkshire’s recent creative and cultural celebrations have contributed to record visitor numbers, as the region celebrates Yorkshire Day.