Leeds Teaching Hospitals seeks input on plans for Innovation Village

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has launched a market engagement exercise to help shape plans for its proposed Innovation Village.

The 12.5-hectare Innovation Village, backed by Leeds City Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, is intended to serve as a base for digital health and MedTech firms. 

A market engagement exercise will invite interest from potential investors, developers and occupiers – including existing suppliers to the trust – to inform a development masterplan, due at the end of 2025.

Phil Wood, chief executive at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “Leeds is transforming ageing healthcare infrastructure into opportunity through our exceptionally strong partnerships across the region.

“Leeds Teaching Hospitals is committed to delivering world-class healthcare and our approach to harnessing innovation means we can bring clinicians, academics and private sector partners together to introduce the latest medical advancements to patients and address health inequalities. 

“By pursuing alternative delivery models, we’re seeking to bring forward urgent healthcare improvements while creating significant social and economic benefits, which aligns perfectly with the government’s vision for our NHS and the UK’s future health and prosperity.”

The trust is also working with KPMG to explore alternative funding routes outside of NHS capital budgets, with the hope of securing investment for new clinical buildings and accelerating development of the Innovation Village.

Leeds is home to 144 healthtech companies with an estimated combined turnover of £1.6bn, with the Innovation Village is expected to create 4,000 jobs and £13bn in economic benefits and development potential of 1.5 million square feet.

Work is underway on the first phase with the transformation of the historic Old Medical School into a healthtech innovation hub in partnership with Scarborough Group International.

The Leeds Innovation Village is being supported by funding from the West Yorkshire Investment Zone and the Old Medical School is expected to create 75,000 square feet of innovation space by 2027.

Ed Whiting, chief executive of Leeds City Council said: “Our ambition remains clear: to make Leeds a globally recognised centre for innovation, one that not only drives economic prosperity but also delivers measurable and meaningful impact towards a healthier, greener, and more inclusive future for all. 

“Leeds is already a major force in powering Yorkshire’s health tech revolution, and this commitment from key partners in the city, along with ourselves to exploring innovative funding alongside the market engagement exercise for the Innovation Village, signals a further dynamic approach to strengthening our healthcare infrastructure and driving economic growth.”

West Yorkshire Mayor, Tracy Brabin, added: “Our Investment Zone will help to advance our innovative healthtech sector, which continues to produce world-leading medical and technological advancements.  

“Working with Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and partners, we are determined to unlock the immense potential within our life sciences sector and deliver projects that improve lives and drive economic prosperity across West Yorkshire.”

Writing for Digital Health News in February 2025, Richard Evans, head of business development and innovation at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, described how Leeds is establishing itself as a healthcare innovation hub.