The Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force has now officially completed its work on understanding the feasibility of enhancing Manchester United’s home ground.
The options considered were for a new 100,000 stadium next door to Old Trafford or to redevelop the iconic stadium itself.
With either option, the development aims to transform Trafford Park, promoting social and economic benefits to the surrounding area.
The task force has submitted an options report to the executive bodies at Manchester United, Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Trafford Borough Council.
The report itself sets out a once-in-a-generation opportunity to develop the area into a hub of growth and innovation in a range of sectors, including; sports, entertainment, business, and education.
The development of the stadium and surrounding area is projected to generate an extra £7.3 billion to the UK economy, with more than 90,000 job opportunities.
If the option to redevelop Old Trafford is picked, the legendary ground could be upscaled to hold 87,000 fans, however, the choice of which option to go with is still under consideration.
It’s understood that the decision will be made before the summer, however, no definitive date has been given.
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Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force delivers options report from initial consultations
As part of this initial phase of the options report, over 50,000 United fans were surveyed, with focus groups and open days also contributing to the findings.
Over 90% of fans were keen for an enhancement of the club’s home ground, either as a redeveloped Old Trafford or with the building of the “Wembley of the North”, with the majority (52%) preferring a new stadium.
The local residents were also included in the consultation, with over 60% of the 1000 surveyed feeling that the project could benefit the area.
With the options report now submitted, Trafford Council and Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) will discuss the benefits of establishing a Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) to support the project.
An MDC is a statutory body which can drive the delivery of large-scale development, including mixed-use regeneration, transformational urban extensions, and new settlements. It can take on powers to acquire and develop land and bring forward new infrastructure – laying the groundwork for an ambitious regeneration project aligned with Greater Manchester’s wider growth mission.
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Lord Sebastian Coe offers thanks for engagement
The Chair of the Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force, Lord Sebastian Coe has thanked everyone who engaged with the feasibility work.
Lord Coe commented: “I want to thank the Task Force members for their dedication to this important project which will lead to significant growth not only for Trafford but for Greater Manchester and also the North West of England.
He continued: “Collectively we have examined a wide range of options to produce a report that outlines the huge opportunity that Manchester United, and the local authorities, have to deliver major economic and social growth.
“At the heart of the plan is a world-class football stadium which will act as a catalyst for one of the biggest regeneration projects ever undertaken in the UK.”
Adding to this, Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, commented: These proposals offer the biggest opportunity for urban regeneration this country has seen since London 2012 and are an important part of our 10-year plan to turbocharge growth not only around Old Trafford but across Greater Manchester.
He continued: “Our city-region is in a unique position. We are driving growth faster than the UK average, attracting more investment through innovative partnerships, and we have developed an innovative new mechanism to deliver the homes, jobs, and infrastructure that we need to lock in those benefits for years to come.
“Transforming the area around Old Trafford won’t just benefit Greater Manchester. By beginning to move freight away from the site we can bring new life to underused industrial land, open up capacity on our rail network, and unlock massive potential across the whole of the North.
“We are ready to move forward and will be working closely with government, our councils and communities, and the club to make sure we get this right.”
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