Elland Road regeneration could deliver up to 2,000 new homes

The council’s statement adds that it “is likely that development of a site like this could achieve over £1bn of direct capital investment, in due course, to the city and its economy, delivering a high-quality, mixed-use neighbourhood with the potential to deliver [around] 1,500-2,000 new homes alongside new leisure, educational and workspace uses”.

LCC decided in 2025 to refresh its 2007 planning guidance for the Elland Road site, and made the decision on 8 January 2026 to progress planning permission for the upgrade to Elland Road, subject to legal agreements and other conditions.

The council also noted the emergence of the South Leeds Gateway and the potential development of mass transit to the area as reasons necessitating the update of its planning guidance.

The report believes that the area “has the capacity to support higher-density living that has net zero and sustainability principles placed at the centre of design and delivery”.

This would enable “a mix of tenures to meet the demand for new homes across the city, which includes pressures for affordable and key worker housing as well as from the ‘brain gain’ from increase and retention of graduates and undergraduates”.

LCC added that “the land immediately to the west of the stadium has the greatest potential for mixed-use development, while the land on the western, northern and eastern perimeter has been identified for an integrated transport buffer”. Car parking would be moved to the south of the stadium.  

However, anonymous respondents to the consultation website set up to ask for community feedback on the plans wanted to prioritise transport connectivity, a unique atmosphere and well-designed public spaces over increased housing density.