Leeds United to buy former school site from council

Leeds City Council has agreed to sell the site of the Matthew Murray High School in Holbeck to Leeds United football club.

The club wants to build a new training ground closer to their home stadium Elland Road as their current facility in Wetherby is 20 miles outside of the city.

The new ‘world-class’ facilities will also be delivered to Category 1 status – a requirement of the Premier League for training and academy facilities.

The club will now be offered a 12-month exclusivity option to undertake further investigative work, including site surveys, to ensure the project is feasible, before being offered a purchasing contract.

The high school was demolished in 2006.

The city council also gave the green light for plans that could see the car park adjacent to Elland Road turned into a community sporting hub.

Cllr James Lewis, deputy leader and Leeds City Council executive board member for resources, said: ‘By selling this land at the former Matthew Murray school site to support the club’s ambitions to build a new world-class training ground, and with the potential development of a new Parklife hub at Fullerton Park, Leeds United will be returning right back in the heart of our city and communities with world-class facilities.

Leeds United CEO Angus Kinnear added: ‘Today’s announcement is an exciting one for Leeds United which will hopefully enable us to build a world-class facility, aimed at creating a talent development pathway for young people who live in the inner city.

Photo Credit – Pixabay