Manchester United have entered a strategic partnership with local authorities to align plans for Old Trafford’s future with the regeneration of the surrounding area.
United announced on Monday that the club would begin working alongside Trafford Council and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) on the project to either redevelop or rebuild the stadium.
An independent director and advisory team will be appointed to coordinate the Old Trafford project with Trafford Council’s masterplanning of the Trafford Wharfside development and GMCA’s growth strategy.
The advisory team’s findings will feed into the Old Trafford task force, which is chaired by Lord Sebastian Coe, and includes mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham and former United defender Gary Neville, among other local political and business leaders.
United and the local authorities hope that by putting the future Old Trafford at the heart of the Wharfside plans, the stadium project can be a catalyst for the area’s regeneration.
Lord Coe, chair of the task force, 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.”
The regeneration of Old Trafford is a priority of INEOS, which completed its purchase of a 25 per cent stake in United in February.
United are not planning to move away from Old Trafford due to the club’s deep-rooted history on the site, but there are options for redeveloping the existing stadium or building a new ground on the adjacent club-owned land. The initial preference of INEOS chairman Sir Jim Ratcliffe is to build a new stadium over a redevelopment project.
One of the main focuses of the task force will be the financing of the project. A variety of potential private funding sources will be explored, with the cost of building a new stadium and/or a wider regeneration plan likely to require additional financial partners.
Burnham confirmed in March public money would likely be required, and said it could be “the biggest regeneration project in the north of England”.
The mayor of Greater Manchester added: “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.
“With this new partnership we have the expertise, the vision, and the passion to drive forward the regeneration of the Trafford Wharfside area, and deliver real benefits for the community, the fans, and for the economy across the North.”
(Michael Regan/Getty Images)
