Plans to expand Elland Road, home of newly promoted Premier League club Leeds United, have received support from key members of the city council.

Goal: increased capacity

The club sealed its return to the Premier League on Easter Monday and now hopes to raise the stadium’s capacity from 37,645 to around 56,500 seats. The expansion would be made possible by the sale of council-owned land surrounding the stadium to the club. This agreement was approved during a council meeting on Wednesday.

Jonathan Pryor, Deputy Leader of Leeds City Council, stated during the session: If we are a Premier League team, we need a Premier League-standard stadium. An expansion of nearly 20,000 seats would make Elland Road the seventh-largest football stadium in England, according to the city council.

This is more or less how an expanded Leeds United stadium could look.

Project coming soon?

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the club is expected to submit a formal planning application in the coming weeks, outlining the project’s full details. Councillors were informed that the investment forms part of a broader plan to revitalise the southern part of Leeds, aiming to transform the area around the stadium into a vibrant, year-round destination. Construction work could begin on the west stand within the next 12 months, with the north stand set to follow in a later phase.

Jonathan Pryor highlighted that Leeds United’s return to the top flight after a two-year absence puts the city back in the spotlight. He also announced plans to collaborate with West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin to improve public transport links in the Beeston area, where the stadium is located. Allan Lamb, leader of the Conservative group in the Labour-majority council, emphasized that the promotion will bring much more attention to the city. The key now is for Leeds to stay in the Premier League – and for that, a suitable stadium is essential, he said. Public consultations will be held once the planning application is submitted.

This is more or less how an expanded Leeds United stadium could look.