What will Leeds look like in 2040? Don’t forget to have your say in the Local Plan 2040 scoping consultation

With 5 days to go until the scoping consultation closes, the council is urging residents to have their say on planning policy across seven key areas that will help shape the future of Leeds before March 24.

The consultation covers the following areas:

• Spatial Strategy – Where should development take place in Leeds? As one of England’s largest cities and the centre of the Leeds City Region, it is important to manage how growth and development will be directed across the city.
• Housing- How should Leeds respond to the national housing crisis? The Local Plan 2040 will consider housing need across the city, the mix and type of future housing development, the need for affordable housing and specialist homes e.g., for older people and students as well as for groups like Gypsies and Travellers.
• Economic development- How many new jobs do we need, and where should they be? Leeds has a diverse and growing economy with a key focus on promoting inclusive growth; the Local Plan 2040 will look at how much land is needed to support economic development and which parts of Leeds should be prioritised for business development. It will also look at locations for new economic hubs and the district’s role in development for tourism.
• Roles of centres- What will your local high street look like in 2040? Leeds has over 60 town and local centres and the council will consider how to manage and protect them for the benefit of local communities at a time when shops are closing and other uses such as housing are becoming more commonplace.
• Minerals and Waste- Leeds has reserves of minerals that are needed by industry, the Local Plan 2040 will explore the necessity for mineral extraction and associated infrastructure. It will also explore future need for waste disposal and infrastructure required to process green waste, glass recycling and food waste. In addition, it will consider whether Leeds needs a local planning policy on fracking.
• Transport and accessibility- The Local Plan 2040 will explore how the plan can work with the Connecting Leeds Strategy to ensure that development is supported by public transport and active travel infrastructure so that Leeds can be a city where you don’t need to own a car. The scoping consultation will also look at what is needed to help prepare for a mass rapid transit system, which is dependent on central government funding and managing growth at Leeds Bradford Airport.
• Other topic areas- Other technical planning matters will also be considered in the plan, such as heritage and conservation, landscape, rural development (including detailed policies for development in the green belt), community facilities, contaminated land and hazardous substances, open land, and green corridors in urban areas.

Councillor Helen Hayden, Leeds City Council’s executive member for climate and infrastructure said, ”Planning is the first step in so many things that affect so many people’s lives, sometimes without them even being aware of it.

“We want to make sure that everyone across Leeds has the chance to influence and shape the initial conversations around the Local Plan 2040, so I would urge people to have their say before Friday.”

Have your say now

The Local Plan 2040 is a thorough update of Leeds City Council’s core planning strategy and site allocations plan, additionally the council is also progressing the “Local Plan Update: Your Neighbourhood, Your City, Your Planet”, which is a separate process and focusses on climate change prevention and impacts, design, health, and place making.

Residents and local business are able to have their say on the dedicated website or via email, post and phone up until March 24 when this round of consultation closes.

The planning department will continue to engage with residents and local businesses ahead of the next round of consultation to ensure voices from across Leeds influence the development of the Leeds Local Plan 2040.

The dedicated website is home to all the information relevant to the Local Plan 2040 scoping consultation. This includes separate sections for the different topic areas, which are available in detailed and short formats.

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