Leeds Live provides a comprehensive breakdown of how the latest Leeds City Council planning meeting unfolded
Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter
15:18, 03 Nov 2025
Elland Road stadium
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Elland Road stadium(Image: DARREN STAPLES/AFP via Getty Images)
Leeds United envisage that “at least £200million of global investment capital” will be driven into the Elland Road expansion plans, and have meanwhile made steps to tackle transport concerns.
More than £10m has already been spent on the application and plans over the past year, with project leaders claiming that the expansion will add £30m gross value to Leeds as a city each year.
Leeds United are looking to increase seat capacity to 53,000 in two phases, with the West Stand to be extended first - from 8,000 to 17,750 - before the North Stand is increased from just over 10,400 to 15,300.
A hybrid application was formally submitted in July. The hope is that a decision on whether to approve or refuse the application will be made at November's Leeds City Council (LCC) planning meeting.
Club insiders are confident that plans will get the green light, though have asked the council for clarity over timelines amid fears that the start of works might be pushed back beyond a ‘full season’ should there be significant delays in approval.
The City Plans Panel committee met last Thursday to review matters. Leeds United chief business officer Morrie Eisenberg, who is spearheading the project, attended the meeting.
In his opening statement, he described the expansion as “a tangible, at-our-fingertips opportunity to fuel at least £200m of global investment capital into our local economy - and potentially much more than that.”
Transport has been the overriding main concern and Eisenberg revealed what steps the club is taking to combat these issues.
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Response to transport concerns
He outlined that the club would develop a new role - a full-time travel planning coordinator - who will oversee and evolve the management of transport matters. This person will liaise with Eisenberg himself and the council.
Eisenberg also outlined that the club plans to use current players and United legends to drive behaviour change when it comes to mode of transport, amid its aim to reduce car usage by match-goers from 65% to 51% once all works are complete.
“The more that we can get people commuting in groups, that’s going to take cars off the road and really help our traffic and travel situation,” Eisenberg added. “We intend to use the full force of the shield to drive more responsible commuting on matchdays.”
Part of this would be to shut the road of Elland Road before matches. The current post-match window is 15 minutes before full-time but closures could increase to an hour or longer. Diversion routes are yet to be decided.
Elland Road
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Elland Road(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
There is also the idea of extending the ‘red route’ - the no-stopping zones - around the stadium’s circumference. The club has pledged to not add any more on-street parking.
Leeds United are therefore working with the LCC to improve the council’s parking lots so these are better managed, which will utilise a pre-booking automated system in the hope that this will make the running of car parks much smoother.
Eisenberg stressed that extensive transport research and surveys have been carried out, as well as engagement with stakeholders, to provide the best picture of the situation that the club has ever had before. He also reiterated the club’s support for the proposals for a tram network within the council’s Mass Transit plans.
Councillors have their say
The general aims of the transport plan is to significantly change the mode of transport, commit to no additional street parking and to ensure congestion is not increased amid underlying hopes of a reversal.
The idea is that an enhancement of pre-match facilities - such as a new fan zone - will encourage supporters to arrive at the ground earlier and thereby spread out the influx of match-goers and reduce the pile up of congestion ahead of kick-off and after full-time.
Transport matters are still being ironed out by officers and regulatory bodies, though there is hope that concerns will be resolved by November’s council planning meeting.
Nevertheless, councillors have proposed to set up a meeting solely regarding transport issues, and how it encompasses within the council’s Mass Transit scheme, before then.
Two proposed tram routes run adjacent to Elland Road stadium
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Two proposed tram routes would run adjacent to Elland Road stadium(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
Councillor David Blackburn said: “Generally, as far as the stadium goes, I’ve not got a lot of problems with it - but the devil is in the detail of the highways. I think it stands all fours on that. Until we get that, I wouldn’t take a view."
Cllr Barry Anderson stated: “If you were to bring this as a final application, and we’re given three or four hours to give a yes or a no on it… I think we need to look at highway and transport issues before we bring it for final presentation.”
Other matters
A range of topics were discussed during the hour-and-a-half meeting, including the curation of a new multi-use games area - which will comprise four small pitches that can be adapted for other sports on non-matchdays. This will be come with the Leeds United Foundation's realm.
A community liaison group that looks at transport and wider community engagement has been proposed, in regards to the games area and other matters.
Other clarifications to come from the meeting saw the confirmation that the internal base of the West Stand will be ‘re-profiled’ to improve views and the depth of seats for comfort. Accessibility has been considered within the plans.
Meanwhile, in regards to noise concerns, there will be a cap of eight non-football-match events of per year, and it has been underlined that the design of the stadium is such that the noise is deflected back into the arena.
Eisenberg said Leeds United feel they have a responsibility to “lead by example” when it comes to sustainability and so are looking to increase green space in the stadium’s footprint, while solar panels will be installed on the roof of the West Stand.
Leeds United chief business officer at Thursday's meeting
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Leeds United chief business officer at Thursday's meeting(Image: Leeds City Council)
The club are part of the bid for the 2035 Women’s World Cup and Elland Road would need to be upgraded to meet international standards by then in order for it to remain a part. The initial prospective completion date of both stands was late 2030.
The main body of work will be completed during international break and summer periods to ensure there is no compromising of current seat capacity during the season - which is why the club is seeking assurances over timelines amid the huge organisation needed for demolition and rebuilding work.
The nature of such a big-scale construction means options are limited when it comes to choosing local businesses but the club has the aim of prioritising local recruitment and promoting work experience and apprenticeship opportunities where it can.
The next meeting is scheduled for November 27, when Leeds United hope a decision will be made on the plans. It is already more than 20 weeks since the application was submitted amid initial hopes that a decision would take around 13.
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