Hunt on for Old Trafford regen project director
The successful candidate will work alongside Lord Sebastian Coe to lead the regeneration of the land around Manchester United’s ground into a mixed-use scheme featuring 15,000 homes.
Applications for the role of project director, who will be responsible for delivering the strategic vision for the regeneration of Old Trafford and developing and implementing a business plan, are now open, Trafford Council has confirmed.
They will work within the Old Trafford Regeneration Mayoral Development Corporation, which is chaired by former Olympic medallist Coe.
The aim of the MDC is to spearhead the project, among the highest profile regeneration initiatives in the country and one that could generate more than £7bn for UK plc and £4.2bn locally, according to research by Oxford Economics.
A masterplan for the 400-acre opportunity is currently being drawn up by Allies and Morrison and is due for completion early next year.
The centrepiece of the scheme is a new stadium for Manchester United but a standoff about land values is holding that project up.
“The Old Trafford Regeneration project represents the biggest opportunity for urban regeneration this country has seen since London 2012,” said Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to leave a lasting legacy and deliver a project that will benefit not just Trafford and Greater Manchester but the whole of the UK.”
Cllr Liz Patel, Trafford Council’s executive member for economy and regeneration, said: “For this scheme to be successful we need the best possible people leading it and we’re excited to see who will rise to the challenge.
“The creation of the MDC ties in with Trafford Council’s priority of fostering a thriving economy and homes for all. We can’t wait to see this ambitious vision for the future of this iconic and internationally important area take shape and make a real difference for the people who live, work and visit Old Trafford.”
The Old Trafford regeneration project is not the only potentially transformational scheme seeking someone to steer it. Blackpool Council is on the look out for someone to lead the development of Silicon Sands, a data centre cluster within the town’s enterprise zone.
What about freightliner terminal? There no information about transfer from Trafford park to St Helen freightliner terminal? I still waiting to hear from government and Greater Manchester mayor. Might be soon as possible.
By G J Kitchener
After the weekend’s Guardian article, this is certainly needed
By Anonymous
“Experience of managing CPO enquiries an advantage…”
By Anonymous
A hot potato this one. And actually such a shortage of people of the necessary profile for this type of job.
By Anonymous
I thought Allies & Morrison were working up the masterplan for Wharfside and Fosters were working up the masterplan for Old Trafford (Stadium)?
By Anonymous
Just what does Coe know about Manchester and its property scene in general? Nothing . But he is extraordinarily well connected in a political sense . This is the biggest mess and expensive and delayed project since HS2 . The public will be on the hook and this will take years – if it ever actually materialises . Just look at the appalling record of the owners .
By Anonymous
CPO experience !
By TJL
Re: “Just what does Coe know about Manchester and its property scene in general? Nothing”
…hmmm, but surely thats the whole point in this role – to appoint a project director who does, to work alongside him.
If we revert back to regional parochialism, stuff doesn’t get done…
By Flippin eck negative nelly
I think the Olympic village , Canary Wharf , Battersea were all bigger regeneration projects , burnham making up headlines again
By Salford red
Anonymous 11.40am, how has this project been delayed and what costs have been incurred so far? Clearly you know something the rest of us don’t. To compare this to HS2 is ridiculous.
By Anonymous
I wonder if Gilbert and Sullivan could forsee the future when they wrote the words to ‘ The ruler of the Queen’s navy ‘ that it would be so relevant to lord seb Coe ?
By Christian Smith
Regeneration of those areas that need it is very important. Manchester and Salford have created their own Visions and masterplans which have been successfully implemented. Coe was one of those in London who knocked Manchester`s Olympic and Commonwealth bids. The latter which was hugely successful.
Absent American and Monaco billionaire owners are trying to get a free new, Old Trafford which is not essential to the regeneration. They are not putting in any of their wealth. The tax exiles expect public funding of £400m to move a freight terminal out of Greater Manchester to Merseyside for their benefit.
Coe is no friend of Manchester nor Greater Manchester.
The truth is that this wider regeneration scheme can be brought forward without a football club that already has a stadium and which does not have the land required and claims it does not have the money.
By Lets be Realistic
But why should they be CPO – people are so passionate because of Manchester United but at the end of the day they will make massive revenue so why shouldn’t Freightliner get a share of what their land is worth?
By Anon
Disgusting. What’s this going to cost the Manchester people?
By Anonymous
Steve Coogan’s taken, perhaps Peter Kay?
By Anonymous