Illustrative northern English town square at dusk

Area

Regeneration in Leeds

Follow regeneration in Leeds, from South Bank and Aire Park to Kirkstall Forge, and see who funds and delivers it each quarter.

Research checked

The place

Leeds concentrates its regeneration effort south of the River Aire, where the 253-hectare South Bank area carries a published ambition of doubling the size of the city centre. Vastint UK's Aire Park, on the former Tetley Brewery site, and CEG's Kirkstall Forge masterplan sit alongside this, and regeneration also reaches into the district's town centres.

Who decides and delivers

Leeds City Council is the local planning authority and the accountable body for all four Pride in Place boards, while the West Yorkshire Combined Authority sets regional funding priorities and infrastructure routes such as the Brownfield Housing Fund. The four boards, covering Armley New Wortley, Farnley East, Middleton and Seacroft North Monkswood, each have an independent chair and set their own local investment plans. Delivery partners named in the briefing include Vastint UK at Aire Park, CEG at Kirkstall Forge, and registered providers such as Leeds Federated and The Guinness Partnership.

What each edition tracks

Each quarterly edition tracks funding decisions, planning milestones and delivery progress across these sites and boards. This edition's research was checked on 19 September 2026.

Current edition

Q3 2026

As at 19 September 2026

Funding, places and delivery. A briefing for the organisations bringing forward homes and regeneration across Leeds city centre, South Bank and the district's town centres. Research checked 19 September 2026.

Regeneration projects in Leeds

Beyond South Bank, Leeds City Council's own Elland Road Planning Statement sets out potential for further new homes and a stadium expansion around Elland Road, while Whitehall Riverside on the city-centre waterfront has already been delivered. Regeneration also continues through the district's town centres, and Leeds sits within a proposed Mayoral Development Zone spanning the city centre and South Bank, a coordinating partnership rather than a single scheme.

Construction and housing funding in Leeds

National grant and finance decisions for Leeds schemes rest with Homes England and the National Housing Bank. Regionally, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority directs its Brownfield Housing Fund and West Yorkshire Housing Investment Fund toward sites such as South Bank, and coordinates the proposed Mayoral Development Zone with the council and Homes England. Locally, the four Pride in Place neighbourhood boards each control their own ten-year investment plan for their area, separate from these citywide routes.

Who decides regeneration in Leeds

Leeds City Council holds planning powers, owns land at several sites, and is the accountable body for Pride in Place funding. The West Yorkshire Combined Authority approves regional funding routes and co-leads the proposed Mayoral Development Zone with the council and Homes England, chaired by the Mayor for the first month and then by an independent chair. Named delivery partners include Vastint UK, CEG and registered providers such as The Guinness Partnership.

The River Aire at Leeds South Bank, near Leeds Dock Illustrative visualisation, AI-generated; adapted from a photograph by Mtaylor848, CC BY-SA 4.0

Questions about regeneration in Leeds

What regeneration is happening in Leeds?
Leeds's regeneration centres on South Bank, a 253-hectare area with a published ambition of doubling the city centre, including Vastint UK's Aire Park and CEG's Kirkstall Forge. The council's Elland Road Planning Statement also sets out potential for new homes and a stadium expansion, alongside ongoing work in the district's town centres.
How is construction and housing funded in Leeds?
Funding reaches Leeds through several routes: national grant and finance decisions made by Homes England and the National Housing Bank, regional funds such as the West Yorkshire Combined Authority's Brownfield Housing Fund and Housing Investment Fund, and Pride in Place funding controlled locally by each neighbourhood board.
Who leads regeneration in Leeds?
Leeds City Council is the local planning authority and leads the proposed Mayoral Development Zone with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Homes England. Four independently chaired Pride in Place boards set local plans for their neighbourhoods, and delivery partners such as Vastint UK and CEG bring individual sites forward.
Cover of the Leeds Planning Handbook

The Leeds handbook

Planning and building-regulations guidance for the area, published separately.

Read the handbook

Directory inclusion

Local suppliers can enquire about a listing in a future edition.

About directory inclusion

All West Yorkshire areas All editions, by region