Leeds Levelling Up Fund winners and losers - and how they reacted to the Government's funding decision

The ambitious proposals would have allowed the council to deliver on the government’s levelling up agenda building on the Morley town deal and connecting West Leeds funding through investment in parks, transport infrastructure, high streets, and local economies.

Meanwhile the West Yorkshire Combined Authority submitted a Bus Enhancement Package bid.

The Government’s Department for Levelling Up promised that the latest round of funding would deliver much-needed economic growth and new jobs to communities across the country, as the Prime Minister promised to "build a future of optimism".

The Government said that £2.1bn in funding had been split between £672m to develop better transport links, £821 million for community regeneration, and £594 million to go towards restoring local heritage sites.

The Prime Minister's own Richmond constituency in Yorkshire is receiving £19m in funding, with money going to Catterick Garrison to regenerate the town centre.

Unfortunately only one of the seven Leeds bids was successful, prompting angry responses from council leaders.

Councillor James Lewis, Leader of Leeds City Council, said: “This is incredibly disappointing as we put enormous effort into high-quality, well-constructed bids with an imaginative approach to linking up existing funding and opportunities in a way that would benefit the whole of Leeds.

“We will be seeking urgent feedback from ministers for the reason why they rejected all six bids. This comes after much needed rail projects for Leeds were scrapped in 2021 under the Integrated Rail Plan."

Here are the winners and losers of the Leeds bid.

Winner – Bus Enhancement Package bid

West Yorkshire Combined Authority's Bus Enhancement Package bid was among the projects to win the Government's approval, securing £41,248,832 in funding.

The huge investment will deliver improvements to bus services across the county, including in Leeds. Improvements will include safer and more accessible bus stops and bus stations, and better highways to improve journey times.

“I’m pleased that we’ve received £41m to continue improving West Yorkshire’s bus network, but it’s incredibly disappointing that no other local community was successful in their bid, despite investing huge amounts of hope, time and energy.“Forcing local areas to compete against each other for funds in this way cannot be the way we level up. In West Yorkshire, our ambition is our strength – it shouldn’t be another area’s weakness.

Loser – Leeds West: Armley parks and Town Street

The bid, which proposed significant improvements to Armley’s parks and Town Street, has been rejected despite hard work by Labour Councillors, Rachel Reeves MP and Leeds City Council to secure vital funding to improve community assets.

Rachel Reeves, Leeds West MP said: "The government’s Levelling Up Fund is in chaos. Not even five per cent of the first round of funding has made it to communities who were promised 15 months ago, and in the second round places like Armley have been ignored entirely.

"After 13 years of Conservative rule, hardworking communities including Armley are still paying a Tory premium. Labour has set out plans for the biggest ever transfer of power out of Westminster, so local leaders can harness the skills and assets in their area to drive growth, and all people in all parts of Britain are given the backing to make a contribution."

Loser – East Leeds: Fearnville Leisure Centre revamp