Leeds United have provided responses to a number of concerns and questions from city councillors on the Elland Road redevelopment planning application.

The club could soon discover the fate of their application, which aims to take the stadium's capacity from 36,000 to around 53,000 through the redevelopment of the West and North Stands. In recent weeks it has emerged that there were outstanding highways and traffic issues that needed to be addressed by the club in conjunction with the relevant authorities. In the latest document added to the application's Leeds City Council planning portal Leeds United promised councillors would have the benefit of a 'comprehensive baseline of assessment' when they came to make their decision on the plans.

Highways issues were among other concerns and questions from councillors, who also asked for comments on the impact on the Leeds United Womens team, landscaping, noise from concerts that would be held in a newly-developed Elland Road and wider community benefits.

Three councillors wanted an update on the current status of outstanding highways work. The club said they were continuing to engage with Leeds City Council Highways, National Highways and West Yorkshire Combined Authority to resolve residual comments on the highway position being addressed through the Transport Assessment and Travel Plan. The response said: "The Applicant has undertaken over 12 months of continuous engagement with LCC Highways, National Highways and WYCA covering both the pre-application and application stages. This has included robust survey assessment of the baseline conditions pre and post-submission, including targeted spectator and staff questionnaires, drone parking surveys and matchday operational observations such as pedestrian flows, taxi drop-off activity and bus park operations. As a consequence, LUFC and the specialised advisors know more on highways matters now than they ever have before, so when Members do come to make a decision on the planning application, they will have the benefit of a comprehensive baseline of assessment.

"The Applicant team are continuing to engage with LCC Highways, National Highways and WYCA to resolve residual comments on the highway position. This work will ensure that the three stated transport aims of the project will be met, namely shifting travel habits - improving sustainable transport options through a comprehensive Travel Plan, and achieving a reduction in the percentage of spectators travelling by private car, no increase in on-street parking in the immediate area and no increased impacts on the highway network."

In response to Coun Campbell's comment that the landscaping is poor, with limited new tree planting, the club said: "The development provides an improved, high-quality public realm around the stadium with different types of planting appropriate to its setting. In total, 45 new trees are to be planted which exceeds policy requirements to replace any trees lost at a 3:1 ratio. In addition to this, mandatory requirements to achieve 10% biodiversity net gain are met on-site. Specific details of the landscaping, including species types and planting densities, will be secured through planning conditions in the usual way.

"Wider landscaping improvements will also be secured through wayfinding contributions associated with travel planning initiatives. The landscaping approach represents a significant improvement on the current position, creating a high-quality space which will encourage activity pre and post-match, and which is supported by LCC Officers and satisfies adopted policy."

Coun Blackburn enquired as to how Leeds will address noise from concerts at the stadium. The response noted that there will be some 'wider noise increase' in the general area of Elland Road but it is compliant with national policy and avoids an overall worsening. The response added: "The proposals are fully justified and appropriate in noise terms through the planning submission and accompanying Noise and Vibration Assessment, and have been supported by the Council’s environmental health officer. Conditions will be secured to ensure that the stated noise position is controlled and managed."

Leeds responded to Coun Blackburn's question on concerns over spectators arriving earlier and staying later to confirm this was one of the stated aims of the redevelopment and it would ease congestion issues on matchdays. They said: "The intention is to increase the dwell time of spectators before and after matches, particularly through an increased food, beverage and entertainment offer on-site.This will increase the dispersion of crown movements over a longer period and reduce peak capacity, to the betterment of the local highway, public transport and pedestrian network."

On wider community legacy the response listed 'significant benefits' that would contribute, including new employment, over 700 jobs created, a multi-use games area and 600,000 stadium visitors per year with a 'spin-off expenditure.'

On the subject of Leeds United Women and how the redevelopment will impact them, the club's response centred mostly around the potential for FIFA Women's World Cup games and England Lionesses matches to be hosted at Elland Road, a research-backed suggestion of a possible increase in female attendance at Whites games and the work of Leeds United Foundation with local girls. But it also stated that the stadium improvements will 'enhance opportunities for Leeds United Women, who traditionally play at least one match a season at Elland Road, enabling future games to be played in front of crowds of 50,000+ as the team progresses.'

Leeds United Women played against York City Ladies at the stadium in November 2024, attracting a crowd of 4,801. They currently ply their trade in the FA Women’s National League Division One North.