Leeds Elland Road park-and-ride scheme approved

The Park and Ride facility will be built on the site of a car park adjacent to Elland Road

Plans for a new park-and-ride scheme for up to 800 cars have been approved by Leeds City Council.

The facility will be built on land near to Elland Road stadium, with buses running to Boar Lane in the city centre between Monday and Saturday.

The council said it hoped the scheme would be open for the arrival of the 2014 Tour de France in Leeds in July.

The plans were approved despite objections from ward councillors and local residents.

Critics had claimed the scheme would result in an increase in traffic and pollution and said the council had "ignored" reports which claimed the site was "unsuitable".

However, a council spokesperson said the proposal would "bring benefits in reducing congestion and pollution in other areas".

The site will have 450 car park spaces, with a further 350 spaces available in an overflow area.

The park-and-ride service will not be operated on Saturdays when Leeds United are playing at the stadium.