Planning for the Leeds Supertram

This paper sets out to show how the Leeds Supertram scheme was conceived as part of the Leeds Transport Strategy and the various procedures and criteria which are necessary if such a scheme is to be brought to fruition. It highlights the issues which emerged and the approach to gaining powers and funding. It demonstrates the good partnership working between the promoters, West Yorkshire PTE and Leeds City Council, and that the scheme has been robust enough to weather all the changes during the last decade and remain the cornerstone of transport ambitions in Leeds. Unfortunately, given recent press speculation that the Government is placing lower priority on major urban transport schemes, the future of the scheme may still not be secure despite the encouragement given following the publication of the Government's Ten Year Transport Plan in 2000.