Leeds United want to see a significant reduction in the number of fans travelling by car as part of their Elland Road expansion plans.
The Yorkshire club currently have a 26,000-long waiting list for season tickets, which they are hoping to ease with an increase in capacity. Leeds' aim is to redevelop Elland Road to take their capacity from 37,645 to 53,000 spectators.
A recent planning officer report has recommended the approval of the plans to expand Elland Road. The decision is expected to be formally ratified by councillors on the City Plans Panel on January 8. The proposal would see the West Stand partially demolished and then redeveloped, while there are also plans to improve the North Stand.
Leeds want more sustainable travel
As per the West Leeds Dispatch, there are also plans to reduce the number of fans who travel by car to Elland Road. As it stands, around 64.5% of supporters use a car as their means of transportation on matchdays. Under the planning proposals, Leeds have set the ambitious aim of reducing that figure to just over 25%.
The club believe that more supporters will walk or take a bus from local railway stations. The increase of sustainable transport measures would prevent a considerable increase in on-street parking, which is already an issue affecting local residents.
If there is a significant rise in on-street parking, the football club will have to spend £500,000 on the introduction of resident-only parking zones.
FGG says: Ambitious travel plans
On the fact of it, Leeds' aim to reduce car travel to games to just over a quarter seems to be on the ambitious side. It will be difficult to convince supporters to change their matchday routine and encourage them to use alternative forms of transport if they are accustomed to travelling by car to Elland Road.
With that said, there will be measures introduced to incentivise fans to take more sustainable modes of transport, which should bring the number of car users down. However, even with incentives in place, there surely has to be some scepticism as to whether Leeds can achieve their ambitious target.