Leeds City Region HS2 plan launched

A plan to use HS2 as the spark to create thousands of jobs for the Leeds City Region has been launched.

Around 300,000 jobs are expected to be created over the period covered by the Leeds City Region HS2 Growth Strategy including 41,000 from proposals set out in the plan, 5,000 from construction and a further 40,000 from the broader economic impact of HS2 which has the potential to add over £54 billion to the region’s economic output.

Schemes which can be accelerated by HS2 include the transformation of Leeds Station, the improvement of connections along major transport corridors across the Leeds City Region and the regeneration of key sites in Bradford, Halifax, Huddersfield, Wakefield, York and the Leeds South Bank.

The strategy aims to make the Leeds City Region an international centre of excellence in light and high speed rail skills and support supply chain companies in rail, transport, construction and engineering.

It highlights University of Leeds proposals to create a High Speed Rail engineering centre of excellence and technology park.

The strategy makes the case for £20 million to carry out further feasibility work and determine the total level of financial support required to implement the proposals which is likely to be significant.

Susan Hinchcliffe, West Yorkshire Combined Authority chair, said: “The strategy sets out the sheer scale of the opportunity HS2 presents for the whole region and the transformative impact it could have on its economic prospects.

"It is vital that we ensure all our communities benefit. Work is therefore already underway to identify the improvements required along key transport corridors with a view to making sure all cities and towns are ready to connect to HS2 when it opens.”

David Higgins, HS2 chairman, said: “One of HS2’s key purposes is to give local regions the chance to think about how they can build on their own distinctive skills and expertise to make not only themselves, but the country as a whole more competitive and productive. Leeds City Region were amongst the first to recognise that unique opportunity and seize it with both hands, as this plan shows.”

Judith Blake, Leeds City Council leader and West Yorkshire Combined Authority member, said: “HS2 is an incredible opportunity to create something truly transformational to the economy of our city and the wider region.

“It is a very rare chance to bring a wealth of jobs and investment that can be shared by everyone across all our communities, widening our options to work and travel and opening up new skills sectors.

“If this vision gets the financial support it deserves it will empower us and our partners to make sure HS2 drives the biggest boost that has been seen in decades to the economy of Leeds and its neighbours.”