How Is Mayor Tracy Brabin Tackling The Housing Crisis With Affordable Homes In West Yorkshire And Wakefield?

Ever find yourself scrolling through property websites, looking at house prices and just thinking, 'how is anyone supposed to afford that?' It's a feeling many people share, especially across West Yorkshire. But a major effort is underway to tackle this head-on. On Monday, 4th August 2025, some of the most important figures in the housing industry gathered together.

This wasn't just any old meeting; it brought together top private developers, local council leaders, and the Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin. Their mission was clear: to get things moving "further and faster" on building the thousands of new, genuinely affordable homes the region desperately needs, with a key focus on areas like Wakefield.

A big promise for new homes

At the centre of this push is a significant pledge from Mayor Tracy Brabin. The goal is to build 5,000 new affordable homes across the whole of West Yorkshire within the next three years. So, what exactly does 'affordable' mean? It's not just a handy buzzword. It refers to homes where the rent or buying price is tied to local incomes, not just the sky-high prices of the current market. This is a game-changer for regular families, young people starting out, and essential workers who want to live in the communities they serve. The summit on August 4th was all about turning this ambitious target into a reality, ensuring faster delivery of this much-needed affordable housing.

The event brought everyone to the table, from local authorities in Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds, and Wakefield, to housing associations and private developers. This united front and strong sense of collaboration is what's needed to make a real dent in the problem and get the housebuilding process into high gear. This focus on affordable housebuilding is a top priority, and getting everyone working together is the only way to achieve such a large-scale goal. This ambitious pledge represents a massive step forward for the region's housing future.

Tackling a huge problem head-on

Let's be real, the reason for this urgent action is because the region is facing acute housing pressures. It's a massive challenge, and the numbers don't lie. Right now, there are nearly 100,000 households on council house waiting lists across West Yorkshire. Think about that for a second. That's an enormous number of people waiting for a secure place to live. At the same time, the average house prices have climbed to six times the average salary, pushing the dream of homeownership out of reach for many. And the rental market isn't much better. In some areas, an estimated two in every five privately rented homes fail to meet decent standards. That could mean dealing with anything from a leaky roof and persistent mould to faulty electrics or poor heating. It's a serious issue that affects the quality of life for thousands of families.

The Mayor, Tracy Brabin, summed up the gravity of the situation perfectly:

"Having a safe, warm and affordable place to call home is not a nice to have - it's a basic human right. Yet with almost 100,000 households on council house waiting lists and private rents soaring, too many families in West Yorkshire are being deprived of the very foundation their lives need to succeed."

This stark reality is why the drive for more high-quality, affordable homes is so critical for the entire region.

So, what's the plan?

A big problem requires a solid plan, and a key part of the strategy is something called devolution. Put simply, devolution means that powers and funding have been transferred from the central government in London to local leaders here in West Yorkshire. This is a big deal because it allows decisions about things like housing to be made by people who actually live in and understand the region, rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach from afar. This local control is already making a tangible difference.

As the Mayor explained, "Thanks to devolution, we've been able to back bold, place-based solutions, and we're seeing the results - with more affordable homes delivered than at any time since the financial crash." The entire effort is guided by the West Yorkshire Housing Strategy 2040, a detailed, long-term roadmap for the future. The strategy hinges on a deepening collaboration with Homes England, which is the government's national housing agency. And the funding? A significant portion is supported by the UK Government's massive £39 billion Affordable Homes Programme, a national fund created specifically to boost the delivery of affordable housing projects just like this one. This structured approach, combining local power, expert partnership, and government funding, is what underpins the whole initiative for more affordable housebuilding.

Is it actually working?

It's one thing to have a plan, but another to see results. The good news is that the strategy seems to be working. West Yorkshire recently celebrated a huge achievement: reaching its highest level of affordable housebuilding in over a decade. Since May 2021, the wheels have been set in motion for over 6,000 new homes across 29 different sites. This is concrete proof that the renewed focus on affordable housing and better collaboration is making a real impact. This progress is a testament to the hard work of the local authorities and developers.

However, no one is declaring victory just yet. The summit, held just before this update was published on 10th August 2025, was about building on this momentum and pushing for even more. The consensus is that while the progress is great, the scale of the challenge requires an even faster pace of delivery. As Tracy Brabin emphasised:

"But we need to go further and faster, uniting all of our housing partners around a shared mission - building the affordable, high-quality homes that local people need and deserve".

This refreshed pledge and the combined efforts of everyone involved in housebuilding in places like Wakefield, Bradford, and Calderdale are aimed at accelerating the creation of these essential homes across the entire region. The mission for more affordable homes continues.