Long-term regional plan unveiled to transform economy and environment

Mayor Tracy Brabin and West Yorkshire’s five council leaders have launched five new “regional missions”, aimed at boosting progress on jobs, housing, transport, climate and crime.

At an event in Leeds, Brabin unveiled “The West Yorkshire Plan” – a series of long-term solutions to tackle insecure work, expensive housing, unreliable public transport, the effects of climate change and crime.

These five areas will be targeted for sweeping investments until 2040.

Brabin was joined by West Yorkshire’s Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Alison Lowe, as well as by Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, Cllr Jane Scullion, Cllr Shabir Pandor, Cllr James Lewis, and Cllr Denise Jeffery, the leaders of Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield councils respectively.

They spoke about each of the five missions, which are:

A prosperous West Yorkshire, built on an inclusive economy with well-paid jobs.

A happy West Yorkshire, full of great places and healthy communities.

A well-connected West Yorkshire, held together by a strong transport system.

A sustainable West Yorkshire, rich with greener lives and communities.

A safe West Yorkshire, free of the fear of crime so everyone can flourish.

Brabin, said: “These five missions will form the building blocks of a stronger, happier, better-connected, greener and safer West Yorkshire. Together, they will focus minds and allow us to transform lives across the region, as we work to deliver a brighter West Yorkshire that works for all.

“Long-term problems require long-term solutions, and here in West Yorkshire, we’re laser focused on the big issues that really matter to people.

“Devolution is working for West Yorkshire. Over the past two years, we’ve delivered well-paid jobs, affordable homes, cheaper bus fares, greener communities and safer streets. But by working together, with a clear and serious plan for the future, we can deliver so much more.”

Commenting on the first mission, Cllr Pandor, leader of Kirklees Council and chair of West Yorkshire Combined Authority Business, Economy and Innovation Committee, said: “Economic growth is the backbone of our vision to build a brighter West Yorkshire that works for all. By growing our economy, we’ll create better and fairer jobs, putting more money in people’s pockets and providing a brighter future for our young people.

“But we can only deliver these jobs in partnership with the private sector – by creating the conditions for business to flourish upwards and investment to flow inwards. Only a serious, long-term plan for growth will inspire the confidence of business to invest.”

Cllr James Lewis, leader of Leeds City Council and chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Employment and Skills Committee, added: “Access to secure, skilled jobs that reward people with proper liveable pay should be available to all.

“No household should be struggling to put food on the table and no child should have to grow up in poverty, because their parents or carers are without the skills they need to thrive.

“Our number one mission is to tackle in-work poverty in West Yorkshire, by driving up and widening out prosperity in the region.”

Speaking about the second mission, Cllr Denise Jeffery, leader of Wakefield Council and chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Place, Regeneration and Housing Committee, said: “There should be a basic right to safe and affordable housing. Without it, life becomes just about surviving, let alone thriving. That’s why we want to ensure that by 2040, we have enough affordable, sustainable and high-quality homes for everyone in West Yorkshire.

“That means building on our partnership with Homes England, which will boost the delivery of 38,000 homes, to deliver hundreds of thousands more through deeper partnerships with housing providers and a new devolution deal with Government.”

Focusing on transport, Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, leader of Bradford Council and chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Transport Committee, said: “A modern, integrated public transport system is our only route to a stronger, better-connected West Yorkshire.

“To get there, we’re committed to bringing buses back under greater public control, building a tap-in, tap-out mass transit system, and providing cheap and easy-to-use active travel options for everyone, everywhere.

“With devolution, we want to deliver the affordable, reliable and sustainable public transport system our region deserves, encouraging people to ditch the car and use the train, tram, bike or bus instead.”

And commenting on mission four, which outlines plans to deliver a Net Zero carbon economy by 2038, Cllr Jane Scullion, leader of Calderdale Council and chair of West Yorkshire Combined Authority Climate, Energy and Environment Committee, said: “Here in West Yorkshire, we’ve pledged to deliver a Net Zero carbon economy by 2038 – over a decade ahead of Government.

“To green our region and tackle the cost of living crisis at source, we urgently need to invest in the clean transport, renewable energies and green jobs of the future, as we continue to make thousands of homes warmer and hundreds of businesses cleaner and cheaper to run.”