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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Plans for a £25million training facility at a former high school site have been withdrawn but Leeds will build a community sports hub there instead.

Leeds have withdrawn plans to build a £25million training facility close to Elland Road in favour of increasing the stadium's capacity to 55,000.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

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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds17105231121935
2Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd1711422491535
3Burnley179622161533
4Sunderland1796226121433
5Watford179262624229
6Middlesbrough178362920927
7West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom176921811727
8Blackburn RoversBlackburn167452017325
9Millwall166641914524
10Norwich CityNorwich175753125622
11Swansea CitySwansea176471615122
12Bristol City175752021-122
13Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds176472026-622
14Stoke CityStoke175661920-121
15Derby CountyDerby175572122-120
16Luton TownLuton175391829-1118
17Coventry CityCoventry174582225-317
18Oxford UnitedOxford Utd174581927-817
19Preston North EndPreston173861624-817
20Plymouth ArgylePlymouth174581834-1617
21Cardiff CityCardiff174491526-1116
22Hull City173681623-715
23Queens Park RangersQPR172871526-1114
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