What is the Vision for Leeds?
The Vision for Leeds is a long-term strategy for the economic, social and environmental development of the city. It is also known as the sustainable community strategy, which the Government now requires cities to produce. 

The Leeds Initiative published the first Vision for Leeds – a strategy for sustainable development - in 1999 - a landmark moment for the city.  The current Vision for Leeds was launched in 2004 with three main aims of narrowing the gap, going up a league and developing Leeds’ role as the regional capital. It has also influenced medium-term planning for the city, resulting in a three-year Leeds Strategic Plan – the first time the council has agreed its objectives not only with government, but jointly with partners.   

What are the key issues the city needs to tackle between now and 2030?
Much has changed since we produced the last Vision for Leeds, not least the global issues of the recession, climate change and an ageing population, all of which impact significantly on cities such as Leeds. This is why we are now beginning to look at the challenges facing the city now and in the future.

What has happened so far?
The Leeds Initiative has developed a report highlighting how the city has developed, but also looking at the challenges ahead. This report is available to download here.

A project team is meeting on a monthly basis to drive the project forward and ensure the process is fully coordinated with other city strategies and plans. A Vision Steering Group made up of partners from across the city is meeting regularly to provide support and advice and ensure that the Vision project plan is delivered.

A joint meeting of the Narrowing the Gap and Going up a League Boards took place on 8 February to consider and discuss the conclusions drawn from the discussions so far to firm up a proposition which will form the basis of the consultation draft.

Next steps
The Vision project team will draw up a consultation draft before the formal public consultation is launched in September 2010.

The team will also identify the impact assessments that need to be undertaken in terms of risk, sustainability and equality and draw up a communications and media strategy.