Elland Road redevelopment can be 'motor to drive change' in south Leeds, Cabinet minister says
Leeds United plans to expand its stadium to 53,000 by 2030, alongside building 2,500 homes and hopefully adding tram stops.
The redevelopment of Elland Road can act as a “motor to drive change” across the whole of south Leeds, the Housing Secretary has said.
Elland Road sits within the Leeds South Bank zone, which has been slated to be one of the Government’s three “new towns” to be started before the next election.
Mr Reed told The Yorkshire Post that the ground’s redevelopment “really can act as a motor to drive change in the community”.
“Elland Road and Leeds United - that has such a glorious history and I hope now a more glorious future as well,” he said.
Mr Reed was speaking from Leeds South Village, where it was confirmed that almost 2,000 homes would go ahead after a £16m injection from Homes England.
“We all want to build on brownfield, we’re standing right here on one of the biggest and last remaining brownfield sites in the middle of Leeds,” he said.
“This is an ideal place to get building … where it’s going to bring in nearly 2,000 homes, hotels, retail.
“It’s going to become a fantastic community to live in, and it’s only right that the Government should back that.”
Mr Reed pledged that the Government would “make sure there are the GPs, the dentists, the schools, public transport” to go alongside the new houses.
The Communities Secretary also visited Marlow’s British Kitchen, in Moortown, a Muslim-owned fish and chip shop which is now offering kosher meals.
This came about after a conversation between co-owner Arabaab Munir and local Rabbi Anthony Gilbert.
Mr Munir said that the decision to serve kosher food was rooted in respect and desire to bring neighbours together, explaining that "when people walk through my door it doesn't matter what faith you are - people want to eat together”.
The chippy now meets strict halachic requirements, including sourcing kosher-approved ingredients, maintaining separate fryers and ensuring a mashgiach [Jewish dietary law supervisor] is present during the kosher service.
It is the first time in 50 years that there has been a recognised kosher fish and chip shop in the heart of Leeds’ Jewish community.