Final draft of planning statement to be shared with senior councillors

The final draft of the Elland Road Neighbourhood Planning Statement is to be shared with Leeds City Council’s Executive Board next week.

The planning statement outlines principles for any future development and regeneration of around 30 acres of land surrounding the football stadium, and has been revised and updated following feedback from last summer’s consultation.

The land, which is principally owned by the council, represents one of most significant development opportunities in the country with the potential to deliver a multi-billion-pound boost to the city’s economy and provide around 2,000 news homes, along with creating innovative leisure, education, public realm and commercial opportunities.

The revised planning statement will go before Leeds City Council’s Executive Board on Wednesday 11 February. The revised planning statement can be read here, and the full report can be read here.

Consultation results and feedback

More than 350 responses were received to the council’s survey questionnaire during the consultation period between 12 June and 25 July 2025. Alongside promotion of the website and survey, a series of drop-in events were held across the local community.

Highest priorities:

Respondents were asked to rank their ‘highest priorities for the Elland Road Neighbourhood’ from a list of eight options.

The top three ranked were:

·       Improving connectivity between Elland Road and the city centre

·       A community supported and sustained by local services

·       A unique atmosphere and offer

Key themes:

The survey’s first question invited respondents to provide feedback and comments on the proposals, from which there were many key themes.

‘Traffic, access and egress’ and ‘parking and multi-storey car park’ were the most popular themes, with 38 per cent and 35 per cent of responses referring to these.

‘Football match day operations’ was the third most popular theme, with 28 per cent of responses referring to this.

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Resident and stakeholder feedback was very clear that transport and connectivity are among key concerns when considering the regeneration and development of this site. The landowner (Leeds City Council) recognises the importance of these issues and would actively consider them in the detailed design process.

The updated Planning Statement re-emphasises the potential for one or more multi-storey car parks (subject to evidence of demand) which could contribute towards matchday parking alongside other modes of transport, and being clearer on how transport impacts would be considered and mitigates through future planning applications.

Greater detail has been included on the phasing of changes to parking to support the long-term nature and what would need to happen before development proceeds. This includes the relocation of the park and ride, and the proposed use of two plots of land (currently known as car park A and car park B) being more clearly articulated as serving dual matchday operations / public amenity space, rather than for development.

Other changes to the planning statement include:

·       Articulating more strongly the proposed connections to and from the site, including the city centre.

·       Additional information on the approach to massing, site zoning and land uses including the potential for mixed use development along the western length of Bobby Collins Way.

·       Additional information on the movement strategy and low traffic route(s) and the role of an integrated infrastructure buffer and more fully highlighting the potential locations for accessible parking.

·       Additional information around matchday logistics.

·       More clarity on process and responsibilities around the relocation of the interim park and ride.

Click the links to read the full Executive Board report, updated Planning Statement, and consultation report.