The park and ride spaces across Leeds are set to be increased as part of a long-term transport strategy for the city.

Construction work has begun at Elland Road park and ride to create 550 extra spaces, with the Connecting Leeds programme expected to create an additional 2,000 park and ride spaces across the city by March 2021.

BAM Nuttall is delivering the work on Elland Road, which will bring the site up to 1,350 spaces.

Connecting Leeds will see an unprecedented £270 million invested to improve all aspects of transport and travel in the city and connect to the wider Leeds City Region.

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Leeds City Council's executive board member for climate change, transport and sustainable development, Councillor Lisa Mulherin said: "Park and ride is a key part of our Connecting Leeds transport strategy for the city. It helps us achieve our aims of reducing congestion and improving local air quality, by improving public transport. I'm pleased to see Elland Road park and ride is already a success and a more popular alternative to travelling by car into the city centre. These extra 550 park and ride spaces developed through Connecting Leeds, will have the capacity to take 277,000 car journeys off our streets each year with the removal of approximately 5,000 tonnes of carbon.

"With a Climate Emergency now is the time more than ever for commuters to think about their journeys. Providing better and more reliable bus services will give more people the confidence and choice to plan travel, without using their car. It's also a cheaper way to travel for families, with children travelling free from park and ride with a paying adult."

The works are scheduled to be complete by summer 2020.

(CM/JG)