Senior councillors are to be briefed on a major regeneration vision which could see Leeds United’s iconic Elland Road home become one of the country’s largest football stadiums.
At a meeting of Leeds City Council’s executive board, members will be updated on a package of ambitious proposals that would transform a key part of south Leeds.
These include an imminent planning application from Leeds United to increase their famous ground’s capacity to up to 56,500, a move that, if approved, would see it join the ranks of the nation’s elite sporting venues.
Land immediately surrounding the stadium is owned by Leeds City Council, meaning agreements will need to be in place between the council and the club before any expansion can begin.
A report to the executive board details the vast potential of the club’s upcoming application in the context of the wider Elland Road area, comprising around 30 acres of council-owned land which could be transformed and regenerated, with billions of pounds of investment then being unlocked.
With a potential Mass Rapid Transit link for south Leeds, the report outlines a unique opportunity for Elland Road to become a year-round destination, potentially giving a huge boost to the local economy while supporting the council’s broader inclusive growth ambitions.
As well as the stadium redevelopment, long term plans for the wider south Leeds area include the potential of British Library North at Temple Works, the Holbeck Sports Hub and Heart of Holbeck, which will include the renewal of the local high street, transformation of a local community centre and the delivery of improvements to traditional terraced homes.
These projects sit alongside existing economic hubs at the White Rose Shopping Centre and White Rose Park.
At the upcoming meeting, members will be asked to note the huge potential of the Elland Road regeneration project and to approve the start of legal agreements to dispose of council land to Leeds United Football Club, which would be needed for stadium enhancement.
The executive board will also be asked to approve that the council enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Leeds United’s development partner Lowy Family Group.
Members will be asked to consider an initial period of collaboration with LFG on the wider regeneration potential and strategy for 30 acres of council owned land around the stadium.
LFG is an investor in the owners of LUFC, 49ers enterprises, and Peter Lowy, one of the principals of LFG, is a board member of the club.
Members are also being asked to approve steps to refresh the council’s vision for the future regeneration of land adjacent to an expanded stadium, and to prepare for a future public consultation on the proposals, which will enable people in the area to have their say.
Councillor James Lewis, leader of Leeds City Council, said:
“Elland Road and Leeds United are part of the heart and soul of the city, and the club deserves a stadium befitting of its special status and incredible fans.
“Naturally we’re keen to support this however we can, and to work closely with the club to ensure they are in the best possible position to achieve their ambitions and build a bigger, brighter future for the club, their supporters and sport in the city.
“From a wider perspective, the regeneration of the Elland Road area also represents one of the city’s most exciting development opportunities for a generation, which would revitalise a huge area of Leeds and potentially bring hundreds of millions of pounds into our local economy.
“Local residents will be fully consulted throughout the planning process and we’re keen to ensure their voices are heard and that they get the chance to inform the project at each stage.
“We want to do all that we can to maximise this incredible opportunity and put everything we can in place, including our MoU with the club’s development partner LFG, to facilitate what could represent a genuine game changer for Leeds.”
The council’s executive board will meet on Wednesday 23 April 2025. For more details and to view a full copy of the report, please visit: South Leeds Regeneration Cover Report 110425.pdf.
This post is based on a press release issued by Leeds City Council
Photo: Jeremy Morton
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