Leeds proposes Mayoral Development Zone to drive new town ambitions
The council, alongside West Yorkshire Combined Authority, would establish the MDZ to accelerate regeneration across the city centre and South Bank if proposals put before the Executive Board are approved.
The MDZ would bring together the council, government agencies and WYCA to deliver the Leeds Transformational Regeneration programme, a long-term initiative designed to expand the city centre and unlock major housing and commercial development.
The proposal forms part of the council’s Leeds Economic Vision 2025–2035, which aims to grow the city’s economy by £20bn and create 100,000 jobs over the next decade.
Under the plan, a new multi-agency Leeds Growth Team led by the council would coordinate delivery alongside partners including Homes England, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Department for Transport.
The aim would be to create a single public-sector interface for developers and investors.
Governance of the MDZ would include an independently chaired board, an advisory group of regeneration specialists and an operational leadership board.
The proposed zone would cover Leeds city centre and parts of the South Leeds Gateway, including the South Bank area currently being considered for new town designation by the government.
Leeds South Bank was shortlisted by the government’s New Towns Taskforce last year and identified as one of the three “most promising” locations for a new settlement programme aimed at delivering large-scale housing growth.
If selected, the South Bank scheme could see the start of construction on around 9,500 homes within three years, with thousands more expected longer term.
The programme would also aim to accelerate commercial development linked to the city’s Northern Square Mile financial district.
Council proposals also highlight the potential for new infrastructure investment, including future mass transit, upgrades to Leeds Station, and further expansion of the city’s park and waterfront public realm.
Officials say the MDZ model would be a ‘natural evolution’ of the existing regeneration partnership structure and would help maintain momentum as the city moves from strategy to delivery.
Government is expected to select the first locations in the New Towns programme by the end of 2026, with construction on at least three projects targeted to begin by spring 2029.
