Land regeneration skirting Elland Road

Image: Leeds City Council

The Leeds City Council has launched a consultation on refreshed planning guidance for the future regeneration of land surrounding the Elland Road Football Stadium in Leeds, England (UK) which could deliver a multibillion pound boost to the City’s (Leeds) economy including potentially up to 2,000 new homes along with major leisure and commercial opportunities.

‘LEEDS.GOV.UK’ stated that the Council is consulting on the ‘Elland Road 2025 Informal Planning Statement’, a document which will guide the future regeneration of around 30 acres of land surrounding the football stadium which is principally owned by the Council.

The Leeds City Council is the local authority of the City of Leeds in West Yorkshire, England (UK). Leeds has had a Council since 1626 which has been reformed on numerous occasions. Since 1974 it has been a Metropolitan Borough Council. It provides the majority of local Government services in the City.

The 37,890-capacity Elland Road or Elland Road Stadium is a football stadium in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England (UK) which has been the home of the Premier League team Leeds United F.C. since the club’s formation in 1919. The stadium is the 13th largest football stadium in England.

The Leeds United Football Club is a professional football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England (UK). The team competes in the Premier League, the top tier of the English football league system.

‘LEEDS.GOV.UK’ further stated that if the refreshed guidance is agreed the land could be transformed with the potential for as many as 2,000 new homes alongside high quality public realm and facilities which are integrated with the surrounding existing communities.

The draft document outlines other uses that could be acceptable including major new leisure opportunities such as a community sports arena, hotel accommodation and workspaces following the internationally-recognized trend of using sport and the football stadiums as a major catalyst for regeneration and investment. There is also the potential for educational facilities linked to sport, health and wellbeing.

The proposals outline the future relocation of the temporary park and ride currently at the site and how, subject to demand being evidenced, one or more multi-story car parks could be permitted.

The land has been allocated for development for a number of years. The previous guidance for the land was adopted in 2007. The refreshed vision and ambitions reflect changes and developments in the local area including the Leeds United’s proposed stadium expansion and also across the economy and the wider City.

Commented Councilor Jonathan Pryor, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Economy, Transport and Sustainable Development, “Our proposals for Elland Road represent a once-in-a-generation opportunity of national significance to create a new neighborhood carefully integrated within South Leeds, which will deliver new homes, create jobs and provide major leisure opportunities along with community and educational facilities that will benefit the new and the existing communities. With recent momentum such as the stadium expansion progressing and many changes in Leeds since we first adopted planning guidance over 17 years ago it is right that we take the opportunity to refresh the vision for this area. We strongly encourage the residents, the businesses and any interested party to participate in the consultation to help shape the updated proposals.”

The site has been utilized as a temporary park and ride and is used for matchday car parking pending redevelopment proposals. The proposals outline how the park and the ride facility could be relocated alongside also potentially allowing one or more multistory car parks to be built on the land subject to demand being demonstrated. These could serve the local community and visitors to the area on matchdays and non-matchdays.

The development of the site would take up to 20 years from start onsite to completion and changes to the parking provision would be phased and carefully considered to ensure the local highway network can function on matchdays and avoid any adverse impact on the neighboring communities.

The Council will be writing to the local residents shortly to understand what their experiences are regarding parking issues in their area and whether some parking restrictions could be introduced to help address any local concerns.

Alongside the phased changes to the car parking provision the proposals also highlight how the Council will improve connectivity between Elland Road and the City so that improvements to the walking and cycling routes make it easier and more attractive for the people to choose active and sustainable methods of travel.

There will also be a series of community events where people can view the proposals and discuss them with the Council officers.

Following the consultation the feedback would be considered when finalizing the proposals. It would be the intention for the document to be adopted by the Council’s Executive Board at a future meeting.

Continue to follow Coliseum for latest updates on venues business news. Coliseum is dedicated towards building the best global community of sports and entertainment venue executives and professionals creating better and more profitable venues.

Become a member of the only Global Sports Venue Alliance and connect with stadiums, arenas and experts from around the world. Apply for membership at coliseum-online.com/alliance and make use of the 365Coliseum Business.

• Tags »
• Elland Road
• Leeds

« Previous News: Palermo FC stay at Renzo Barbera Stadium
» Next News: Purse strings loosened for Casement Park rejig