City is ahead, we hear (5)
I believe the answer is:
leeds
'city' is the definition.
(city in England)
'is ahead we hear' is the wordplay.
'is ahead' becomes 'leads' (I've seen this in another clue).
'we hear' indicates a 'sounds like' (homophone) clue.
'leads' sounds like 'LEEDS'.
(Other definitions for leeds that I've seen before include "City near Bradford" , "British city and premier division football club" , "Industrial city of northern England" , "Yorks city" , "Northern town" .)