West Yorkshire Development Update 2026

Since his appointment in 2017 Henri Murison has established the Northern Powerhouse Partnership as the business led organisation which convenes the North together. From making the case for significant investment in key transport priorities and further devolution deals for the North, to challenging for a better deal for the most disadvantaged from the education system, his team are focused on how government, business and partners can drive the North’s ambitions. Before joining the Partnership, he worked in senior research and policy roles in policing and financial services, and as a former senior local government figure in Newcastle upon Tyne remains a commentator on regional and wider industrial policy. Since 2020 he has served as a member of the Royal Society Science, Industry and Translation Committee and he is also a member of the Court of Newcastle University.

Lee Arnell is accountable for driving the delivery of Leeds’ flagship place programmes through strategic partnerships, to achieve housing, economic and cultural growth at priority locations and has over 18 years experience in delivering major regeneration initiatives. AArnell leads the Council’s work with Leeds United on Elland Road regeneration, Innovation Arc, growth around major transport infrastructure, heritage schemes, Heart of Holbeck, City Centre Regeneration through Leeds Transformational Regeneration programme including the potential of a New Town, work with developers and Registered Providers to unlock and accelerate housing & affordable housing growth, as well as collaboration with the Royal Armouries on proposals for an expansion of conference and exhibition facilities.

After graduating from the University of Reading in 1995, Jackson joined the London office of Teesland (part of Scarborough Group). In 2002 he moved to the Epsom-based national housebuilder Gladedale Group, becoming a director of a number of its subsidiaries, and ultimately Managing Director of its mixed-use division. Jackson rejoined Scarborough in 2010 as managing director of SDG, a new vehicle to relaunch the Group’s UK development activity (Teesland having been sold in 2007 to Valad). Jackson operates his own consultancy, Spring Real Estate Partners, and as of 2026 is establishing with Scarborough a new division to deliver best-in-class science and innovation led environments.