By John Baron
Leeds United are hoping to reduce the number of fans travelling to games by car to little more than a quarter of match-goers as they seek permission to expand their stadium.
Councillors on the City Plans Panel are set to decide whether to approve the application – which could ultimately take the stadium’s capacity up from 37,645 to 53,000 spectators – on 8 January.
Parking and road safety issues had delayed a decision around the two-phase scheme, which would first see the partial demolition and redevelopment of the West Stand at Elland Road. The North Stand would also be redeveloped under longer term plans.
A council planning officer’s report says there will be “no increase” in the level of on-street parking when the stadium capacity increases. Some local residents – including parts of Wortley – already report problems with match day parking.
The report said that if increases in on-street parking are recorded resident-only parking zones could be introduced, funded by £500,000 from Leeds United.
It was hoped more fans would share cars to matches and use public transport. Bus services currently accounts for 6% of trips via local services including matchday shuttles to and from Leeds City Centre, Pudsey and Morley.
The club has pledged ‘no significant’ increase in highway congestion and better management of the network.
The report states 64.5 per cent of supporters currently come to games by car, with around 6,000 vehicles parked on nearby streets – including Wortley. But in future it is intended that little more than one-quarter of supporters will arrive at the stadium by car.
Leeds United anticipate there will be a “large increase” in supporters either walking or catching buses from Leeds railway station, and will also run shuttle buses from the yet-to-open White Rose railway station.
The council’s highways team has branded the club’s proposals as ‘ambitious but credible’.
The council report adds: “The stadium expansion plans will have a significant impact on the highway and transport network around the stadium.
“Significant mode shift is proposed to reduce car use and increase the use of sustainable transport measures. Ambitious mode share targets are proposed alongside a number of measures to effect that change.
“If targets are not met on opening of phase one then mitigation measures are triggered to provide an RPZ to restrict on-street parking and to put more funding into sustainable transport measures.”
The existing away fan coach parking is proposed be relocated to the Elland Road frontage in order to ease crowd management and improve public safety. This would be formed in a new compounded area to the Northern edge of Elland Road
The council report said thew plans are a ‘unique opportunity to improve in what may regarded as an iconic sporting venue and changes which would be beneficial not only the Club, but it’s supporters, the residents in the Beeston, Holbeck and Wortley areas, visitors to Leeds, local community groups, the residents of Leeds and other key stakeholders’.
Questions marks continue to revolve around a potential mass transit system. Exact routes are yet to be finalised, and before Christmas it was reported the £2.5bn plans would be delayed following a government review.
West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) had hoped that trams would be running on two lines in Leeds and Bradford in the early 2030s, however it is now likely to be the late 2030s.
The report said shuttle buses are due to run from the yet-to-open White Rose railway station.
The report concluded: “An enduring and challenging material planning matter in the consideration of this application has been the issue securing and improving the availability of sustainable transportation modes to and from the stadium.
“Following extensive negotiations and discussions between LUFC, WYCA, National Highways and other third parties, the application proposals now provide a finalised strategy on transport and travel planning which are accompanied by a series of conditioned matters secured through a grant of planning permission.”
The club, which returned to the Premier League this season, said the expansion would help address a 26,000-long waiting list for season tickets.
South Leeds Life reports the club has also written an pen letter to local residents, which can be found here.
Council planning officers are recommending approval of the plans.
The City Plans Panel agenda and reports can be read in full here.
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