Manchester United have taken the next step towards building a new 100,000-capacity stadium by entering into a strategic partnership to maximise the regeneration opportunities around Old Trafford.
The Premier League club have teamed up with Trafford Council and Greater Manchester Combined Authority to assess how a world-class stadium can be a catalyst to create a thriving residential, sports, leisure, business and entertainment campus around the Trafford Wharfside area.
An independent director and advisory team are being appointed to oversee the work and ensure the club’s stadium project, Trafford’s master-planning of the Wharfside area and GMCA’s growth strategy are fully aligned. The team’s findings will be fed into the recommendations of a taskforce led by Lord Coe.
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said: ‘Greater Manchester has a strong claim to be the biggest footballing city-region on the planet. Few places come close to matching our heritage and the global impact of our clubs and our culture.
‘The future of Old Trafford is the next chapter of that story, and we have a chance now to make sure it’s written properly.’
New United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants a final decision on his vision for a ‘Wembley of the North’ by the end of the year. A new stadium, which would be built on land owned by the club next to Old Trafford, could be built by 2030.
United have already revealed plans to keep a scaled-down version of the existing stadium which would stand as a living monument to the history of the club as well as hosting women’s and academy games.
Lord Coe said: ‘The objective of this once-in-a-generation project is not only the development of a world-class stadium for the north of England, but also to ensure that this brings broad social and economic benefits to the local area and surrounding region.
‘There is a huge opportunity to connect Trafford Wharfside regeneration with the ongoing growth of neighbouring Media City in Salford, and Greater Manchester’s Western Gateway and Central Growth Cluster plans, to create a project of national significance. The tripartite advisory team will help fully unlock this incredibly exciting potential.’
Councillor Liz Patel, executive member for economy and regeneration at Trafford Council, added: ‘We have ambitious regeneration plans for the Trafford Wharfside area. Our plan is for up to 5,000 new homes in the area, new opportunities for retail space and better connections between Trafford Wharfside, Salford and Manchester city centre.
‘Trafford is proud to be the home of Manchester United, we already attract thousands of visitors every year, this transformational change will make it the perfect visitor destination for new businesses to invest in.
‘We want Trafford Wharfside to be nationally recognised as a place which is dynamic and attractive for residents and businesses, so I look forward to working closely with our partners and local residents to realise our shared goal of transforming the area for everyone.’