Thousands of residents across West Yorkshire, along with business and education leaders, have expressed support for the proposed Mass Transit network for the region.
The latest consultation report from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) reveals that more than two-thirds of respondents are in favour of the initial phase of the tram system, which will focus on connections between Bradford and Leeds.
The consultation feedback will play a key role in shaping the preferred scheme, set to be selected later in 2025, with a further detailed consultation on the chosen route scheduled for early 2026.
Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin said:The public has emphatically told us: ‘we want mass transit!’
This is our region’s biggest infrastructure project in decades and will help us deliver on the growth mission to put more money in people's pockets.
It is time to deliver a tram for the people of West Yorkshire and get spades in the ground by 2028.
The route options consultation for Phase One of the project was conducted during the summer and autumn of 2024, with 4,845 individuals and organisations participating. The report indicates significant public support for a tram line linking Leeds and Bradford, and even greater backing—over 75%—for a connection between St James’s Hospital and the White Rose shopping centre.
Key priorities identified by respondents include improving links to residential areas, reducing traffic congestion, and ensuring quick journey times. The consultation outlined multiple potential routes for the first phase of the network.
The proposals have also received endorsement from regional business and academic leaders, including leadership at the University of Bradford and at the White Rise and Trinity Leeds shopping centres.
University of Bradford Vice-Chancellor Professor Shirley Congdon said:We wholeheartedly support plans for a clean, quick, reliable mass transit system, particularly one than connects Leeds and Bradford.
Such a scheme will benefit students, workers, businesses and residents. It will help reduce carbon emissions and congestions, it will kickstart growth and entrepreneurialism and ultimately boost local, regional and national economies.
The consultation report follows a speech by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, in which she affirmed government support for the West Yorkshire Mass Transit scheme. While no final decisions have been made on the exact routes, early findings indicate strong support for key corridors.
The most favoured route for the Leeds section (L1) would travel through the First Direct Arena, Leeds Beckett University, Millennium Square, East Parade, and Infirmary Street before continuing past City Square and Leeds Rail Station. The next most supported option (L2) would take a slightly different route through East Parade and Park Row.
For South Leeds, the most supported route (L6) would pass through Holbeck, Elland Road Stadium, and Beeston Ring Road before reaching White Rose. Another option, L7, would take an alternative route via Gelderd Road, Lowfield Road, and Old Lane.
In Bradford, support was evenly distributed across three proposed routes: B1, which would link Leeds city centre to Bradford via Armley, Stanningley, Thornbury, and Laisterdyke; B2, which would take a route through Laisterdyke and Wortley; and B3, which would travel through Laisterdyke and Armley.
The final decision on the preferred routes will be informed by several factors, including environmental impact assessments, further stakeholder engagement, and feasibility studies. Once a preferred scheme is selected later this year, a more detailed consultation will be conducted in 2026 to refine the plans.
