MX23RW : Thursday, April 25 10:36:51| >> :120:77925:77925:

Leeds withdraw plans for new training facility in favour of stadium expansion

Leeds withdraw plans for new training facility in favour of stadium expansion
© Reuters
Plans for a £25million training facility at a former high school site have been withdrawn but Leeds will build a community sports hub there instead.

Leeds have withdrawn plans to build a £25million training facility close to Elland Road in favour of increasing the stadium's capacity to 55,000.

The club had received backing from Leeds City Council to relocate their Thorp Arch academy to the former Matthew Murray High School site, located close to the M621 just a few hundred metres away from the stadium.

Plans had already been agreed by LCC for Leeds to increase the capacity at Elland Road from 39,000 seats to 50,000.

A report from LCC's director of city development to the council's executive board said: "Following the promotion of LUFC to the Premier League and the club securing investment from the San Francisco 49ers', the club have reviewed their stadium development ambitions and want to preserve their ability to deliver an expanded 55,000-seater stadium at Elland Road, as opposed to a 50,000 seat capacity previously agreed."

The report said the 5,000-seat increase would require development on the Fullerton Park site next to the stadium and separate plans to build a community sports hub at Fullerton Park, the Parklife project, will now be switched to the Matthew Murray site.

Facilities provided by Parklife include four 3G artificial grass pitches, a community cafe, changing facilities, a gym, NHS treatment rooms and a pharmacy.

LCC leader councillor James Lewis said: "The fantastic return of Leeds United to the Premier League has proved to be a great boost to not just fans, but also the city as a whole.

"We remain committed to working with the club constructively in terms of any ambitions they might have in terms of increasing the capacity of Elland Road in the future, which is why following discussions, we agreed to look at what options could be available to move the proposed Parklife project from Fullerton Park to another location."

Councillor Lewis added: "We are confident that the Matthew Murray site will be an ideal location for Parklife, a view which is shared by local stakeholders, the Football Foundation, Leeds United and our partners at the NHS."

Leeds' managing director Angus Kinnear revealed initial plans to expand Elland Road in October 2019 during his speech at a civic reception as the club celebrated their centenary.

ID:451487:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect2553:

Click here for more stories about Leeds United

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Rangers Borna Barisic pictured in February 2021
Read Next:
Leeds express their interest in Borna Barisic?
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
Read more about Leeds United Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leicester CityLeicester443041086394794
2Leeds UnitedLeeds44279880374390
3Ipswich TownIpswich432611685533289
4Southampton442591085612484
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom4420121267442372
6Norwich CityNorwich442191477611672
7Hull City441912136556969
8Coventry CityCoventry4317121468551363
9Middlesbrough44189176460463
10Preston North EndPreston44189175661-563
11Cardiff CityCardiff44195205061-1162
12Bristol City441611175147459
13Sunderland44168205251156
14Swansea CitySwansea441511185762-556
15Watford441217155958153
16Millwall441411194355-1253
17Stoke CityStoke441311204460-1650
18Queens Park RangersQPR441311204157-1650
19Blackburn RoversBlackburn441310215874-1649
20Plymouth ArgylePlymouth441212205869-1148
21Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds44138233968-2947
22Birmingham CityBirmingham441210224864-1646
23Huddersfield TownHuddersfield44917184774-2744
RRotherham UnitedRotherham44412283285-5324


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!