UKREiiF | Elland Road MoU to be signed
On Tuesday, the Lowy Family Group – owners of Leeds United – along with Leeds City Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority will commit to working together on plans to align the stadium expansion with housing development and future mass transit links.
The Lowy Family Group previously threw its support behind WYCA’s plans for trams in March, better connecting Elland Road with the city centre.
The agreement between The Lowy Family Group, Leeds City Council, and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority will set out a commitment to work jointly on the long-term redevelopment of the wider site, masterplanned by RISE.
The area is set to undergo a major mixed-use transformation, including up to 2,500 homes, expanded leisure and retail space, enhanced public realm and upgraded sporting facilities alongside the club’s stadium.
Credit: RISE/LFG
In March, the council agreed in principle to a one-to-one land disposal agreement, which would see around 30 acres of council-owned land surrounding the stadium sold at market value to a new joint venture company formed between Leeds United and the Lowy Family Group, the club’s exclusive development partner.
The deal is intended to help move plans for the area from vision to delivery and support a comprehensive redevelopment linked to the proposed expansion of the stadium.
Concurrently, Leeds United is progressing proposals to increase the capacity of Elland Road to around 53,000 seats, which gained approval in January. Phased expansion of the West and North stands is expected to complete by 2030.
The wider masterplan is being designed alongside proposals for a new mass transit system that would include tram or tram-train routes linking Elland Road, the White Rose Centre, and Leeds city centre.
The transport strategy is intended to support increased visitor numbers and residential growth, while improving connectivity.
WYCA previously set out a revised delivery timeline for the mass transit scheme, following an independent review, with completion now expected in the late 2030s. However, central government has indicated support for the programme through to the mid-2030s, subject to a strong business case.
If the strategic outline case is approved later this year, detailed design and early delivery work could begin, allowing the transport infrastructure to be incorporated into the wider Elland Road regeneration masterplan.
