Leeds is the regional capital at the heart of the city region. The Leeds Metropolitan District covers over 550 km2 and has a population approaching 750,000.
The district’s settlement pattern is dominated by the city of Leeds but includes a number of smaller towns beyond the main urban area including Otley, Wetherby, Garforth, Rothwell, Morley and Guiseley. The district is, therefore, polycentric and includes significant rural and former coalfield environments.
With the largest economy of the 10 Districts in the city region Leeds accounts for around one third of the economy in GVA terms. As the regional capital, Leeds is home to national government bodies and the headquarters of regional agencies as well as two large universities, the largest teaching hospital in the UK , and a wide range of cultural and visitor attractions.
Jobs and business growth in Leeds provide employment and business development opportunities for the wider city region.
The emergence of Leeds as a national centre for a range of financial and business services has driven investment decisions across the city region and will provide a source of ‘second wave’ developments as this growing service sector seeks lower cost base locations and requires more business administrative and other back-up support functions.
Leeds relies on the city region for significant amounts of labour and the wider residential and quality of life offer it provides. In 2001 107,400 people came into Leeds for work, with significant flows from Bradford (21,300), Wakefield (21,100) Kirklees (17,500), Harrogate (9,600) and York (4,500). 18,800 travel in from beyond the city region reinforcing the regional role of Leeds.