Council leaders set to unite in support for new Leeds Hospital

Council leaders are expected to underline their full and unwavering support for a new hospital for Leeds and call for urgent Government approval and acceleration of plans, ahead of the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s October budget announcement.

A report will go to Leeds City Council’s Executive Board setting out the critical importance of the Leeds Teaching Hospital Trust’s (LTHT) plans to build a new home for the children’s hospital, with one of the largest centralised maternity centres in the UK, and a new adult hospital.

The report highlights how the plans will bring a huge economic boost to the city, creating 4,000 new jobs, 1000 new homes and £13billion of economic benefit, cementing Leeds as a go-to destination for health research, technology and digital innovation locally, nationally and internationally, with huge benefits for clinical investment and academic leadership.

Councillor Fiona Venner, Leeds City Council Executive Member for Equality, Health and Wellbeing, said: “The new hospital will boost the health of children and adults in this city as well as regenerating the existing and surrounding site. and promoting innovation and research across Leeds. It will play a vital part in tackling health inequalities and improving health outcomes for people in Leeds and the region.

“Along with all our partners, the West Yorkshire Integrated Care System (ICS) and the West Yorkshire Association of Acute Trusts (WYAAT), we confirm our unwavering support for the plans and call on the Government to approve and accelerate the programme.”

The report also sets out how the existing Leeds General Infirmary facilities and site are in serious need of updating. There is an urgent need for new, modern health buildings and equipment. First confirmed as part of the Government’s New Hospitals Programme in 2019, the Hospitals of the Future project is beset with national delays.

Government approval and acceleration for the programme in this month’s budget will stem an estimated £300m of costs related to the ongoing delay of the scheme in Leeds. The Leeds programme is one of the most advanced in the country with preparatory work already done to clear the construction site and Outline Planning Consent secured.

The site has also gained Investment Zone Status as a critical part of the West Yorkshire Digital Heath Investment Zone and undertaken formal engagement with the market regarding digital technologies and build solutions and the programme is vital for unlocking land and estate to create the Leeds Innovation Village and deliver thousands of jobs and homes and £13bn of economic benefit.

Leeds City Council’s Executive Board will meet to consider the following recommendations:

• To note the strategic importance to Leeds of replacing existing hospital facilities on the Leeds General Infirmary site with new state-of-the-art buildings and equipment, and the progress made so far by LTHT and partners, of the Leeds Innovation Partnership including the Council, University of Leeds and Leeds Beckett University.
• To note the new hospital programme will deliver a boost to the health of children and adults, act to regenerate the existing and surrounding site and promote innovation and research across Leeds.

The Executive Board is asked to support the call to Government to approve and subsequently accelerate the new hospital programme in Leeds, serving as critical regional health infrastructure.

The Executive Board requests that, given the Treasury review of the new hospitals programme, officers make a submission to the Treasury clearly stating the importance of modernised hospital provision in Leeds. The Leader and Executive Member for Equality and Health and Wellbeing have sought cross-party support for a letter in support of the Council’s submission.