FootyChatter.com

Elland Road has been the home of Leeds United since the club's formation in 1919 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. " 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. " Daniel Farke previously managed Norwich from 2017 to 2021 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. " Diarra penalty hands Sunderland win at Leeds 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. " Considering it was on the morning of an important Premier League clash with Sunderland, Lowy was surprisingly relaxed. He is an avid supporter who said he still finds seeing the green of the Elland Road pitch magical and how he loves to arrive early and sit in the empty stadium. He was at ease talking at length about his passion not only for Leeds United but the redevelopment of the stadium and the importance of the government's support for the mass transit project in helping connect the ground and surrounding area to the city centre. Lowy revealed £10-£20m has already been committed to improving the ground and how a huge effort is ongoing to regenerate the south Leeds area, which is severely underserved. He was adamant the club is in a healthy financial position with regards to Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) and although it was too early to discuss Farke's future, he said the manager's credentials to work effectively in the Premier League were not in question. And he told supporters that, if another season in the top flight is secured, the drinks would be on him. Latest Leeds United news, analysis and fan views Listen to the latest Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast Ask about Leeds - what do you want to know? Fletcher banned for six games for homophobic slur Premier League latest: Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace news conferences 'It's better to be chased' - the mentality of a title race The 1994 figure skating scandal that shocked the world The rebellious story of the 1993 feud in darts Get up close and personal with Africa's magnificent felines Discover the history of the telephone on its 150th anniversary Russell 'elite' and a 'leader' - now he may have car to challenge for title 'It's better to be chased' - the mentality of a title race 'Same old story' for Slot as Wolves 'keep fighting' Is it time to trust South Africa as World Cup 'favourites'? Wolves score late winner to secure shock win against Liverpool. Video Wolves score late winner to secure shock win against Liverpool 'Fin stole my fly-half spot! ' – Atkinson on England's new 10-12 combo How to follow the Premier League on the BBC this week Haaland? Kane? R9? Ranking the best centre-forwards this century Satriano goal stuns Real Madrid. Video Satriano goal stuns Real Madrid Key areas for Scotland against champions France England have better spinners and can beat India in semi-final - Vaughan Should we have high hopes for Hamilton and Ferrari? F1 Q&A 'I cheated head-injury assessment to play on in 2017 Lions Test' Arsenal set-pieces: Too effective or too boring? Video Arsenal set-pieces: Too effective or too boring? How can football's lawmakers fix Premier League corner chaos? 'I knew the risks, I'd do it again' - Moody opens up in new BBC documentary Reshuffled flights and players stuck - how sport is navigating Middle East crisis 'There were tears - but I had to peek behind curtain of head injuries in rugby' New era of Formula 1 - what is changing in 2026? Who has made Troy's Premier League team of the week? Copyright © 2026 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.