£90 million investment to bring 300 Leeds jobs by 2026

Plans to renovate a Grade 2 listed building in Westgate have been approved by the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership to create new jobs and boost the creative and digital sector.

Unity Hall in the heart of Wakefield, applied for funding from the Leeds City Region LEP’s Growing Places Fund to rejuvenate a substantial and historic building in the city.

It is anticipated the renovation will create nearly 40 jobs in the next year.

However, the scale of job creation is expected to be significantly higher as the project gets underway with job creation estimated at almost 300 within the Leeds City Region by 2026 and additional GVA totalling over £95m for the period.

When completed, the building will provide a workspace aimed at creative and digital businesses with high specification digital infrastructure, business start-up accommodation and office space. As part of the offer, the building will include a café, digital business centre, conference venue and a 600 seat performance area for music and theatrical performances.

Roger Marsh, Chair of the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership said: “The scheme represents a long term driver of entrepreneurship, job creation and economic growth for the city region and in turn is likely to attract significant investment within the region.”

“The creative and digital industry is one of the Leeds City Region’s key growth areas and we are backing those sectors where we believe commensurate economic growth will result, so leveraging public money alongside the private sector contribution.”