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Manchester United’s plans to rebuild or redevelop Old Trafford would drive one of Britain’s “largest urban regeneration projects in history”, according to new proposals.
Premier League clubs will decide by the end of this season whether to build a new 100,000-seater ground to create the largest stadium in the country or upgrade and expand their existing stadium.
The plan, drawn up by a task force including London 2012 Olympic leader Sir Sebastian Coe, local authorities and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, says both options will allow the sport to be located right next to Manchester city centre. Will be spearheading a 100-acre reclamation initiative.
Its first proposals, announced on Friday, promise new housing, recreational facilities and transport links.
CGI image of Old Trafford redevelopment © Manchester United
Speculation about Old Trafford’s future has been a major headache for fans since chemicals billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe bought a significant stake in the club last year.
Mr Ratcliffe had previously promised to appoint the “Wembley of the North” in his place. Last month, his company Ineos agreed to a $100 million cash injection said to go toward new infrastructure.
In fact, the club has yet to publicly choose between a new ground and redevelopment.
The task force is currently developing two options.
An all-new stadium is said to be the most popular among fans, with 52% of those surveyed supporting it.
The second option is to redevelop and expand the existing land, increasing its capacity from 78,000 to 87,000 people.
There are proposals to redevelop land stretching from the stadium to the nearby wharfside © Manchester United
A select committee document to be presented to Congressional leaders next week said funding and delivery options were “still being evaluated.”
Meanwhile, club and local leaders are proposing the creation of a mayor-led development corporation, a separate body designed to streamline land aggregation and investment, to be overseen by Burnham. The wider area will be redeveloped into a “world-class sports-led tourism destination”. destination”.
This will include not only the immediate surrounding area on land, but also the land spread across the water from the BBC’s northern headquarters in Media City and the nearby pier.
Lord Coe said the plan would boost growth across the North West © Manchester United
Mr Burnham called the proposal “the biggest opportunity for urban regeneration” since London in 2012.
Mr Coe said the plan would foster growth not only locally but across the North West.
“At the heart of this plan is a world-class football stadium, which will be the catalyst for one of the largest regeneration projects ever undertaken in the UK,” he said.
Proposals have been drawn up to relocate rail freight companies just west of the surface as part of a major exercise aimed at freeing up the region’s notoriously congested rail lines to provide more passenger services. There is.
The task force’s proposals call for central government involvement in coordinating heavy rail services, as well as investment in new local transport networks.
Representatives of the project will also attend Davos in Switzerland next week as part of efforts to attract investor interest, as well as the Mipim real estate conference in France in March.
