Leeds' �1 billion Growth Deal

Roger Marsh, Chair of the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership and Councillor Peter Box, Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority met with the Deputy Prime Minister to sign the deal which will support the Local Enterprise Partnership to improve local transport links, accelerate housing growth and town centre regeneration, and support growing businesses in the region.

Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg MP commented: �I�m delighted to be signing such a significant Growth Deal to Leeds City Region today. It will lead to better transport, more housing and a major boost for jobs in the region.�Roger Marsh, Chair of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership, said: �This is an historic moment for the Leeds City Region as we officially confirm transformational devolved funding for our businesses and residents.""These new powers and pounds will create tens of thousands of new jobs and accelerate economic growth across the entire City Region.""

The Growth Deal is expected to bring an estimated 8,000 jobs, up to 1,000 homes and at least �340 million investment into the Leeds City Region economy from both public and private sector partners by 2021.

The signing of this historic deal comes as devolution of further powers and funding to the North was discussed at the government�s Northern Futures summit, which took place at ODI Leeds on Thursday 6th November.