Leeds United director Peter Lowy has urged the government to support plans to regenerate the Elland Road area and warned that the development will ‘never’ happen if it fails to materialise this time around.
The club had plans to redevelop Elland Road approved by Leeds City council in January, which will see the stadium’s capacity increase from 37,645 seats to approximately 53,000.
Australian billionaire businessman Lowy, whose family founded and built Westfield, feels the stadium’s expansion is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to regenerate the area of south Leeds.
West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin has pledged to build a mass transit system for the region, but in December it emerged the scheme would be delayed by several years.
But Lowy has warned it is “now or never” for a wider project for the area to move forward.
“Leeds is ready for it,” he said. “If we don’t get it done this time, it will never happen.
“It does need to be done in a timely manner though because people like myself and the capital that we have won’t sit around for 10 years because we can invest wherever we choose to invest.”
‘Stars aligned’ for stadium ‘masterplan’
Lowy, who stressed that the expansion of Elland Road will continue regardless of the government’s plans for the area, said stakeholders need to deliver on infrastructure projects as part of a “masterplan” for the area. .
BBC Radio Leeds reported on 20 January that Lowy met with Chancellor Rachel Reeves to discuss funding a light rail system from Leeds station to White Rose including a stop at Elland Road.
Reeves – who has been the MP for Leeds West and Pudsey, formerly Leeds West, since 2010 – said recently the investment from LFG can “create jobs, unlock opportunities and bring more people into the local economy”.
“The football club is managed properly. The football club has the capital to do the expansion,” Lowy said.
“If the government can actually allocate the capital, and build the infrastructure [then] we could raise and invest somewhere between a billion and two billion pounds on that side.
“If we can work with the government and they can move in a reasonable time period for government, we can invest the capital and build.”
Lowy acknowledged building work had yet to begin but said he was “confident we can get there” and was keen to “push” the government.
“We are doing all the pre-work with the city, just like we did on the stadium, for a masterplan for the area, and last week Leeds Council approved a masterplan that we’ve been working with them on,” he added.
“We have the ability, if the transportation system is there, to build 2,500 housing units, maybe 200,000 square feet of offices, local retail, fresh food markets.
“What we need is the political class to get its act together. We don’t get any pushback from government at the moment but they need to get aligned and get their job done.”
Farke contract talks ‘not on the table’
Lowy said there have not been any discussions over a new contract for Leeds boss Daniel Farke.
The 49-year-old German was appointed in July 2023 on a four-year deal and guided Leeds back into the Premier League in his second season.
Leeds are currently 15th in the table – six points above the final relegation place – and Lowy said the focus was on survival with “talk about all that stuff [contracts] later”.
“We have not yet stayed in the Premier League,” he added. “We are not yet secured and so we’re not talking about it. It’s like the same thing last year that really bugged me.
“We were on a run-in to win the league or to win the Championship and everyone’s talking about should Daniel be the manager next year or not.
“To talk about Daniel’s contract now is just not on the table. Not for him and not for us. We have one goal.”
Calvert-Lewin success and wanting him to stay
Lowy said Leeds had not been surprised by the impact made by Dominic Calvert-Lewin this season and it was important to “put the club in a position” where the striker “wants to stay”.
Calvert-Lewin, 28, has scored 10 goals in the Premier League for Leeds having joined the club on a free transfer following his release by Everton.
“You see DCL in training, you see him on the pitch, he’s incredibly fit, he’s playing fantastic football. As he got up to fitness you could see it’s just at Everton he didn’t have the platform,” Lowy added.
“But you could see the ability, and the team that we have saw DCL’s ability. We thought the risk was minimal, and the upside was huge.
“He has a great relationship with Daniel, he has a great relationship with the club, the fans love him.”
