Funding for UK’s first National Poetry Centre advances in Leeds 

The cultural landmark is one step closer to becoming a reality, as the West Yorkshire Combined Authority is set to approve the next stage of development at the former church site.

WYCA will sign off on nearly £370,000 in development funding to help progress the project’s outline business case at its meeting on Thursday.

Designed by Gagarin Architecture, the scheme will transform Trinity St David’s Church on Woodhouse Lane, a grade two-listed building that has been vacant for years, into a national hub for poetry events, education, and community engagement.

The overall cost of the scheme is expected to reach £22.6m, with the Combined Authority contributing £5m via a Levelling Up Cultural Fund specifically ringfenced for this purpose.

Additional funding is expected from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and future delivery partners.

The National Poetry Centre will serve as a cultural anchor institution for the region, delivering national and international poetry events and drawing an estimated 135,000 visitors annually.

Its central location is within the Leeds Innovation Arc and West Yorkshire Investment Zone, placing it at the heart of Leeds City Council’s wider regeneration strategy.

The scheme has already reached RIBA Stage 1, with initial surveys confirming that while restoration is needed, it is achievable, and future plans will prioritise outreach to local communities in areas such as Little London, Bagby Fields, and Woodhouse Carr.

Pending further approvals, the funding agreement for the next stage will be signed with the National Poetry Centre, and the project will now begin developing its outline business case.