Plans are in for a new sports hub next to Elland Road stadium in Leeds, featuring brand new football pitches and associated facilities , as well as amenities for the club. The project is due to total £8m and could provide a space for up and coming players.

NPS Leeds, on behalf of Leeds City Council and the Football Foundation, has submitted a planning application for the Fullerton Park site. The city council are speaking at our upcoming Leeds Development Plans event

Fullerton Park was developed in 1927 and was originally used for greyhound racing and speedway, before being outcompeted by Elland Road. It was then converted by Leeds United as a training ground until the 1990s, and is currently used for match day parking. [emaillocker id=”71749″]

Planning permission is sought for the development of a new sports hub, featuring four 3G artificial grass football pitches available for public use. Three of these would be floodlit, enclosed in “ball-stop fencing” with the remaining pitch covered by an air dome.

A supporting pavilion building comprising changing facilities, a community café, meeting rooms, a fitness gym, GP surgery and pharmacy is also proposed, as well as 105 parking spaces. The proposed GP surgery would be operated by Fuller and Forbes Partnership, which has existing premises in Middleton, Bramley and Cottingley.

The application also contains a coach drop-off for Leeds United, television compound, café kiosk and a covered pedestrian walkway to Elland Road.

The scheme is one of four ‘Parklife Hubs’ planned for the city, alongside Bodington Playing Fields, Green Park (Thorpe Park) and Woodhall Playing Fields. Once built, these would be leased to a not-for-profit football trust.

Plans have also recently been lodged for the Woodhall Playing Fields development. This scheme would comprise three floodlit artificial grass pitches and a new pavilion building with changing facilities, community cafe, reception area and meeting rooms.

The council’s Executive backed the proposed redevelopment of the site as a sports hub at a meeting in September.

The site is hoped to be completed by the time the 2021 football season has commenced.

Angus Kinnear, Leeds United CEO, said: “Leeds United are delighted to be working with LCC and the Football Foundation’s Parklife scheme to advance the Community Sports Hub at Fullerton Park to a formal planning application.

Planning Documents emphasised the inclusive agenda of the new developments “Key football development programmes will be delivered for women and girls, disability, social inclusion, the ageing population and children and young people,”

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