As befits the doughty character of its inhabitants,
Yorkshire is toughing it out as the commercial property market improves at a steady pace. In the case of the office market in Leeds, the performance has been more than pedestrian and has underlined the fundamental strength of the local economy. Whatever the environmental arguments about the HS2 railway line, it can help the Yorkshire city which has shown admirable expansion in the past decade. Such major cities as Bradford, Sheffield and Leeds not to mention Hull, Doncaster, Wakefield and Rotherham can only benefit from the greater rail connectivity which will come with HS2.
It is noticeable how these areas have vigorous economic growth policies epitomised by Doncaster. In fact there is anticipation about the performance that reveals a national understanding of the strength of the region that surely flows from the industrial history of engineering, textiles and the woollen manufacturing. The region has always promoted a concept of independence, not by taking the Scottish route, but rather as a pillar of the UK. The figures for property illustrate this point with its key role in the logistics map of the UK and the proliferation of industrial parks. Nor has manufacturing totally declined because Rolls Royce is developing two new factories in
Sheffield.