Leeds Rhinos unveils South Stand plans

LEEDS Rugby, the owners of Headingley Carnegie Stadium, has unveiled plans for the redevelopment of the South Stand terrace as public consultation begins.

The plans are now on public view in the Carnegie Café Bar at the stadium for residents and supporters to give their feedback before the plans are submitted for a planning application.

The club have revised plans for the new all-standing terrace following initial feedback from planners, reducing the height, capacity and footprint from the proposal announced last year and confirming there will now be no corporate facilities within the new stand.

Chief Executive Gary Hetherington said: "It’s the Club's intention to submit a planning application to Leeds City Council as soon as practical. The project will need to commence at the end of this Super League season and could take around 10 months to complete.

"In the meantime this public consultation is designed to allow residents and supporters to tell the club what they think of the proposals.”

The current South Stand was built in 1932 and renovated in 2000 at a cost of £1m, with further works in 2008 costing £250,000.

The current capacity for the terrace is 6,000, which will increase to 6,500 under the new plans. The new facility will include new male and female toilets, increased access for disabled supporters, baby changing facilities, new alternative changing rooms and improved concession areas for supporters.

Depending on planning permission, there are no plans to move games away from Headingley Carnegie whilst the building work is taking place for either Leeds Rhinos or Leeds Carnegie.

Rob Oates, commercial director, added: "The redevelopment of the South Stand will present us with a number of challenges but we are confident that we can continue with a reduced capacity next season if we are successful with our planning application.

“We are currently working through scenarios for next season to accommodate our fans who have South Stand season tickets and we will contact them directly once these are confirmed."

The public exhibition and consultation runs until Monday, 18th April 2011, in the Carnegie Cafe Bar on St Michael's Lane between 8am and 6pm.

Click here to see the public consultation plans.