The task force charged with the regeneration of Old Trafford has completed its initial feasibility work into options for a new or redeveloped stadium at Old Trafford
Initial findings suggest could deliver an extra £7.3bn gross value added to the UK economy and more than 90,000 employment opportunities
Tbe plans have been described as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the historic industrial engine room of Greater Manchester into a vibrant new driver of growth and innovation in sports, entertainment, business, and education.
The report has been submitted to executive bodies at Manchester United, Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Trafford Borough Council who will make a final decision on the redevelopment of the ground and the surrounding area
Increasing the capacity of the existing stadium to 87,000 or a new-build stadium which would allow capacity to reach 100,000 are both still on the table
Trafford Council and Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) will discuss the benefits of establishing a Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) to help drive forward the project.
Lord Sebastian Coe, Chair of the Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force, said:
“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.
“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.”
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said:
“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.
“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.”
