Green light for Elland Road sports hub

Planning permission has been granted for a new sports hub next to Elland Road stadium in Leeds, featuring new football pitches and associated amenities, as well as facilities for the club.NPS Leeds, on behalf of Leeds City Council and the Football Foundation, submitted a planning application for the Fullerton Park site earlier this year.Fullerton Park was developed in 1927 and originally used for greyhound racing and speedway. It was then used by Leeds United as a training ground until the 1990s, and is currently used for match day parking.The plans cover the development of a new sports hub, featuring four 3G artificial grass football pitches available for public use. Three of these would be floodlit 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 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 includes a coach drop-off for Leeds United, television compound, café kiosk and a covered pedestrian walkway to Elland Road.Planning permission for the development has now been granted by the council, subject to conditions, under delegated powers.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.