Harrogate forced out of Leeds City Region LEP by new Government guidelines

The Harrogate District will no longer be covered by the Leeds City Region local enterprise partnership (LEP) following an agreement to comply with Government guidelines which state that LEP areas should not overlap.
David Kerfoot MBE DL said the shake-up was prompted by Yorkshire devolution.David Kerfoot MBE DL said the shake-up was prompted by Yorkshire devolution.
David Kerfoot MBE DL said the shake-up was prompted by Yorkshire devolution.

LEPs work with public and private sector partners to deliver economic growth across their respective areas.

Since LEPs were first set up in 2011, the Harrogate District has come under both Leeds City Region and York, North Yorkshire and East Riding (YNYER), but both LEPs “reluctantly agreed” to change their geography to comply with new guidelines, which come into force on April 1.

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Harrogate, York, Craven and Selby will now be covered solely by the YNYER LEP. The East Riding will be part of the Humber LEP; Barnsley will go to the South Yorkshire LEP.

David Kerfoot MBE DL, chair of the YNYER Board, said: “The preference of the YNYER LEP Board had been to retain overlapping boundaries with our partners in Leeds City Region and the Humber. We have had many years of successful partnership and collaboration that have bought benefits to the people in all three areas.

“However, with Yorkshire Devolution ambitions progressing, the complexity of merger and the timescales available, it makes pragmatic sense to align LEP geographies with the potential devolution geographies.”

Roger Marsh OBE DL, chair of the Leeds LEP, said: “We are determined to maintain extremely strong partnership arrangements with our regional partners – particularly in York, Harrogate, Craven, Selby and Barnsley – to ensure that the region’s economic priorities continue to be delivered and future investment is aligned to create the greatest possible benefits for all.”

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