In 2001, following their appointment as the Regional Development Agency, Yorkshire Forward published a consultation paper "The Yorkshire Forward Single Pot".   This outlined the principle of the Single Pot and new arrangements for funding, including the key role of sub-regional action plans.  As a result of this, the five district partnerships and local authorities in West Yorkshire met and agreed that the West Yorkshire Economic Partnership be established.

The West Yorkshire Economic Partnership is the public private strategic partnership for economic development and regeneration in the West Yorkshire Sub-Region.