West Yorkshire is preparing for a new Mass Transit network, an investment that will reshape how people travel and connect with jobs, services and opportunities across the region.
To make sure this transformation leads to well‑designed, sustainable and inclusive places, the 5 West Yorkshire Local Planning Authorities (Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield) and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority are developing a West Yorkshire Mass Transit: Spatial Development Framework (SDF) Joint Development Plan Document (DPD). Its role is to guide how development aligns with Mass Transit over the next 25 years, ensuring that new homes, workspaces, public spaces and community facilities are planned in the right locations and support better connections between our towns and cities.
This framework will sit alongside Local Plans and, once adopted, will form part of the statutory Development Plan for each district.
The Spatial Development Framework sets the strategic direction for how West Yorkshire can make the most of the opportunities that Mass Transit will bring. The SDF sets out shared planning principles for shaping growth around future Mass Transit corridors. By co-ordinating development with transport investment, the SDF aims to make sustainable travel easier, support regeneration, improve the quality of new places and help create greener, more resilient neighbourhoods across the region.
About this consultation
This is the first formal stage (Regulation 18) in developing the SDF. At this stage we are seeking your views on the overall direction of the emerging planning approach, including:
- what issues the SDF should address
- the scope and focus of the proposed planning policies
- whether the right opportunities and challenges have been identified
- anything else you think should be considered as the work continues
Your feedback will help shape the next draft of the SDF, which will be published for further consultation in Summer 2026.
What you can influence
We are inviting comments on the broad planning options and themes being explored, including how development could be focused around Mass Transit stops and hubs, and how the SDF could support climate action, inclusive growth, placemaking, and co-ordinated investment.
Consultation details
The consultation is open for a period of 6 weeks starting from Thursday 29 January until 11:59pm on Thursday 12 March 2026.
Further information can be found in our statement of representations
The council has been working with the other 4 Local Planning Authorities in West Yorkshire (Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Wakefield) and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) to prepare a West Yorkshire Mass Transit: Spatial Development Framework (SDF) Joint Development Plan Document (DPD).
This arrangement promotes effective co-ordination and co-operation to create a strategic policy framework to add to existing local planning policy and inform the development of future Local Plans. This strategic policy framework will take the form of a Spatial Development Framework, which will have formal planning policy status.
The city council has published, for comment, West Yorkshire Mass Transit: Spatial Development Framework (SDF) Joint Development Plan Document (DPD) (Regulation 18) Issues and Options document (in fulfilment of the requirement to notify and invite representations as part of Local Plan preparation under Regulation 18 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012). The West Yorkshire Combined Authority are supporting the preparation of the DPD. The Spatial Development Framework will provide a long term (25 years) West Yorkshire-wide strategic planning framework supporting the delivery of all emerging and future phases of West Yorkshire Mass Transit.
Based on the ‘Issues and Options’ presented within the consultation material, it is proposed a strategic, West Yorkshire-wide approach to planning is required to identify the spatial priorities, principles, and implementation mechanisms that will be necessary to optimise the development and growth opportunities across the proposed Mass Transit network to deliver the transformational change expressed in the Mass Transit Vision 2040.
The Spatial Development Framework is a detailed document that covers a range of strategic planning policies. But it also raises some important questions that you might want to have your say on:
- Providing region-wide spatial policy alignment for optimising the delivery of Mass Transit to support sustainable development.
- Setting principles around the focus of growth along Mass Transit corridors.
- Focusing economic and housing growth around transit hubs, including establishing principles for Transit-oriented Development (ToD).
- Placemaking and design quality.
- Modal shift and active travel integration.
- Environment, climate, flood risk, and biodiversity.
- Delivery and implementation mechanisms.
- Policies to support the implementation of Mass Transit infrastructure across West Yorkshire.
This consultation will not include the following:
- Site allocations (housing, employment, mixed-use).
- Broad areas of growth or change.
- Local or strategic Green Belt review.
- Detailed safeguarding of routes for Phase 1 or later phases.
- Numeric growth distribution or reallocation of district growth targets.
- Replacement of Local Plan policies (it provides a strategic overlay only).
Period for submission of comments
Comments are invited on the Spatial Development Framework Issues and Options Document and Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report for a period of 6 weeks, starting on Thursday 29 January until 11:59pm on Thursday 12 March 2026. This statement provides details on how to make comments.
How to view the documents
The dedicated and accessible website Your Voice will be home to all the information contained within the Spatial Development Framework Joint Development Plan Document (DPD).
The consultation will be carried out in accordance with the Leeds Statement of Community Involvement.
You will also be able to access consultation material at Libraries and Community Hubs, as well as the council’s main office at Merrion House, 110 Merrion Way, Leeds, LS2 8BB.
Submitting your comments
This is an important piece of work and it is crucial that everyone who wishes to comment on the Spatial Development Framework is heard, ensuring that views are gathered from as many people, businesses, and stakeholders as possible. This approach helps to ensure that the comments received represent varied perspectives from all people and sectors across the city.
People can also have their say on the Spatial Development Framework by using the online response form through the consultation site Your Voice, or alternatively by emailing MassTransit@westyorks-ca.gov.uk or writing to Freepost, WY Mass Transit SDF JDPD Consultation, West Yorkshire Combined Authority (no stamp needed).
This Issues and Options consultation on the draft Spatial Development Framework will run until 11:59pm on Thursday 12 March 2026.
The intended next stage is known as the ‘Publication Draft Plan’. At this stage, comments received will be carefully considered alongside the evidence that has been developed to identify and present policies. This stage is likely to be subject to public consultation in Summer 2026.
Notification
Unless you specify otherwise, if you make a representation, you will be notified of future stages (including further public consultation). Correspondingly, your representation may be accompanied by a specific request to be notified at a specified address of any of the following:
(i) The submission of the Local Plan for independent examination.
(ii) The publication of the recommendations of the Inspector who will be appointed to carry out the subsequent examination.
(iii) The adoption of the Local Plan.
If you have any questions, need to respond in a different way, or require consultation materials in another format, please contact us by phoning us on 0113 245 7676 (Metroline, charged at the standard operator’s rate) or write to us at MassTransit@westyorks-ca.gov.uk. Alternatively, you can also email us at localplans@leeds.gov.uk.
Privacy notice
To comply with its statutory obligations, the council and its partners must make your representation available for public inspection, which includes making this available on the internet. This includes your name, address, and the contents of your comment. To protect personal data from unnecessary disclosure, the council will, however, remove any personal information provided in your representation which we are not required, by law, to make available (for example, telephone numbers and signatures). Your information will be shared between the 5 Local Planning Authorities, WYCA and external professional advisers supporting the SDF. Anonymous comments cannot be accepted. Please see the council's planning privacy notice and the WYCA privacy notice for the SDF Joint Development Plan Document (PDF, 86KB).
Have your say
View all the consultation material and have your say online through Your Voice.
Visit our dedicated online portal to:
- read the draft Spatial Development Framework
- explore supporting documents
- submit your feedback
Printed copies can also be viewed at selected locations across West Yorkshire.
Your voice matters - help shape the future of Leeds and the wider region!
If you have questions, need materials in a different format, or want to respond in another way, please contact us at MassTransit@westyorks-ca.gov.uk or call 0113 245 7676 (Metroline – standard operator rate).
Alternatively, you can contact the Leeds Local Plans team: localplans@leeds.gov.uk
Next steps
All responses will be reviewed and considered by West Yorkshire Combined Authority, the 5 Local Planning Authorities and their partners.
Your feedback will help shape the next stage of the SDF, known as Regulation 19, which is expected to be published for consultation in mid 2026.
Following that stage, the draft Spatial Development Framework will be submitted to Government for Independent Examination, where there will be further opportunities to comment before any final decision is made.
