Leeds Rhinos' Headingley Rugby Stadium to host new cancer treatment centre
Plans have been revealed for a new cancer centre in the city as part of a proposed health initiative at Leeds Rhinos’ AMT Headingley Stadium.
The centre, to be run by international cancer care provider Icon Group, would expand access to treatment for the disease and support the long‑term health and well-being of the local community.
Around 27,000 people in Leeds are currently living with or beyond cancer, with more than 4,100 new diagnoses each year. Many have to travel long distances for daily appointments.
The proposed Icon Cancer Centre Leeds would form part of a wider health offering at Headingley Stadium, integrating cancer care alongside existing community health, well-being and sporting initiatives already delivered at the site.
It is set to house the most advanced radiotherapy technology available, the first of its kind to be implemented in the north of England and only the second in the UK, the other being the Icon Cancer Centre in London.
In a statement announcing the plan, Icon Group chief executive Mark Middleton said: “Our purpose is to improve access to lifesaving cancer care and to do so in a way that genuinely supports people and communities.
“Being part of a health consideration at AMT Headingley allows us to embed cancer care within a broader ecosystem of health, well-being and community support, not as a standalone service, but as part of the fabric of Leeds.
“This also complements Icon’s strong track record of being an integral part of communities and forming long-term regional partnerships to enable greater access to world-class care.”
Icon has appointed Dame Linda Pollard as strategic advisor to support its engagement in Leeds and across the UK.
Pollard, who previously served as chair of Leeds Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “Having been a healthcare decision-maker in Leeds for many years, I know how strong and proud this community is and how important access to timely cancer care is for local people.
“I’m personally very excited to be part of this announcement. Developments like this, when they are grounded in partnership and shaped by local understanding, can make a real difference for patients and families.
“I’m pleased to be supporting Icon and Leeds Rhinos who both show a genuine commitment to improving healthcare for the people of Leeds.”
Rhinos owner Paul Caddick, who is chairman of property and construction giants Caddick Group, said the new health initiative builds on the organisation’s longstanding commitment to community well-being.
“AMT Headingley has always been about more than sport,” he said. “Through the Leeds Rhinos Foundation and our wider work we already support physical and mental health, inclusion and community resilience across Leeds.
“Creating a space for health initiatives that includes cancer care is a natural extension of that commitment and reflects what this site means to the community.”