Old Trafford overhaul gathers pace
Manchester United, Trafford Council, and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority have inked a strategic partnership aimed at ensuring the redevelopment of the stadium maximises the regeneration opportunities in the area.
The partnership plans to appoint a three-party advisory team to support the redevelopment of Old Trafford into a 90,000-capacity nationally significant venue. The stadium project is the fulcrum of a wider plan aimed at regenerating more than 200 acres of surrounding land.
In March, Lord Sebastian Coe was appointed to lead a taskforce looking at how the stadium project could act as a catalyst for the regeneration of the Wharfside area, which is earmarked for around 5,000 homes.
He said the advisory team, which would provide project management, planning, and technical support, would help “unlock” the area’s potential. No timeline has been provided for the team’s appointment.
“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,” Coe said.
“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.”
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is one of several local leaders on invited to join the taskforce by Manchester United minority shareholder Jim Radcliffe.
Burnham said the various teams and partnerships being formed are aimed at ensuring the opportunity around Old Trafford is fully taken advantage of.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
Burnham added: “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.”
A redeveloped stadium is just one part of Trafford Council’s vision for the area.
Councillor Liz Patel, executive member for economy and regeneration at Trafford Council, said: “Our plan is for up to 5,000 new homes in the area, new opportunities for retail space and better connections between Trafford Wharfside, Salford and Manchester city centre.
“We want Trafford Wharfside to be nationally recognised as a place which is dynamic and attractive for residents and businesses, so I look forward to working closely with our partners and local residents to realise our shared goal of transforming the area for everyone.”
If done right this could be so special
By Bob
Working on the basis of 5 houses per acre to provide a reasonable plot for family houses I make that 1,000 houses across 200 acres maximum.
There are going to be a lot of future slums built by Trafford council if they put 5000 houses on that land.
This doesn’t include retail plans and the stadium in the equation.
Still they’ve probably allocated all the council tax it will bring.
By Realist
A whole heap of fluff. And what about the other land owners? Ditch the ‘Trafford Wharfside name as well. ‘Old Trafford’ is known worldwide
By Anonymous
Reality – why would they be slums just because there’s a lot of them? Bizarre logic.
By Anonymous
It’s nice our leaders get to be on Sir Jim’s shiny and very important taskforce, and presumably the hospitality at their high-powered meetings is excellent, but it might bring more credibility if the notion MUFC will be getting any sort of taxpayer subsidy for the new stadium or their wider plans can be firmly put to bed – there shouldn’t be any need for it, nor for any relaxation of affordable housing policy or compromises on quality on the basis of enabling development.
Engagement between political leaders and a major developer needs to be out-in-the-open and in public wherever possible to avoid the risk of murkiness, which isn’t the same as putting out boosterish press releases when Andy hasn’t got anything else to [re]announce.
By Trafford Light
Strategic Partnership signed, MDZ to follow…?
By Dave P
Didn’t Lord Coe scupper Manchester’s Olympic bid? Didn’t he say that only London could ever host the Olympics? Not Birmingham, or Manchester. Is this the beginning of a new bid? Surely by 2044, the city region will be the only realistic alternative to London, as a host, if Britain goes for it again.
By Elephant
If the stadium can be built with a running track Manchester could be the next European host of the summer Olympics. Do the honorable thing Jimothy
By Verticality
Before any of this goes ahead we need a bona-fida signed sealed and delivered promise to reopen ‘Manchester United Football Halt’ railway station 🚉
In fact it needs to be incorporated into the national railway timetable with existing trains running along that route stopping there
The current Metrolink stations in and around the existing ground are not fit for purpose
The regular shuttle services that ran from Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Oxford Rd to the ground took less than 10 minutes in either direction and gave supporters fast access to and from the city centre
The current walk after the match to a Metrolink tram station takes around 10 to 15 minutes and the queuing up even longer
This problem will not go away and has to be dealt with competently by people that know what they are doing.
If the new 100,000 ground is granted plus 5000 new homes well the extra capacity and transportation of that amount of extra people will need to be addressed by a brand new rail link into the centre of Manchester …
Two trains an hour – everyday of the week a minimum for residents and spectators at the least …
By Peter Chappell
Density doesn’t mean future slums. It’s an opportunity to provide a vibrant neighbourhood and more densities should be aimed for everywhere in the Greater Manchester central region.
By Anonymous
This project has the potential to be the most exciting regeneration project north of London. A new area of the City (yes I know it’s in Trafford) to match the scale of ambition of Quintain at Wembley and the OFA at Stratford. A new national stadium to found an Olympic bid, the removal of the freight terminal, a new residential district, hotels, a museum, new public realm to the river and the extension of fast public transit with a station terminus between it, the city centre, Media City and the Trafford Centre. And job creation and inward private sector investment. Do not limit the scale of that ambition!
By Anonymous
The stadium should be 120,000 and have a women’s and youth team pitch so they can play in the same location as the mens team and we can go watch rather than go to Leigh
By Bigger
A lot of fancy words to just say “even more flats “..oh sorry “apartments ‘
By Anonymous
Some media outlets are speculating a capacity of 100,000 – (rather than 90,000).
By MrP
For new houses the container base would have to go , it’s noisy all night long.
By Anonymous
This is not the first time ‘Realist’ has worked on the basis of 5 dwellings per acre as ‘normal’ for family housing. In new money that’s about 12 dwellings per hectare. Anyone who knows the first thing about housing development knows that’s very low and by today’s standards an absolute non-starter even on a greenfield, urban fringe development. For future reference, Realist, if you’re going to use acres, you want to be working on about 16 per acre and even that’s nothing more than what should really be bog standard delivery on site.
And that’s before we get onto the difference between houses and housing…
By Unlevelled for balance
The stadium needs to be 100.000 plus 💪💪💪
By Paul
I was at the new waterfront bar area at Salford Quays/Lowry this weekend. It’s absolutely fantastic!
By Anonymous
Seb coe scuppered Manchester’s bid for the Olympics, I have no faith in him .
By Mr pj
I imagine all the commenters saying something like “not more apartments” are all safe and happy in houses they bought years/decades ago. I’m alright Jacks. What about those of us who can’t get on the housing ladder and can’t afford to rent either because of the scarcity of housing nowadays? Just take a few moments each day to think about people who aren’t yourself and you might find your perspectives change. We are in a housing crisis, we need more homes. That is the reality. So yes, more apartments – and I hope in years to come we’ll keep building thousands and thousands more.
By Anonymous
I think it needs to be made very clear who and how much are the investors of this project.
Anyone other than Man United fans will not be happy if public money is used
By 1805
Why not to build new stadium in Carrington?Plenty of space there🤔
By Thinker
No doubt a vision of expensive built to rent blocks of flats that look like revamped versions of 1960s/70s offerings, houses squished together with communal open space so everyone can live and socialise on top of each other – assuming you can even afford to live there in the first place. People who want privacy and a decent garden of their own will need to look elsewhere and finding somewhere like that is getting harder and harder and pushing people out
By Anonymous
It might be better to continue with Trafford Wharf side irrespective of what Manchester United are doing. The issue of a new stadium versus renovated OT has been going on for a decade at least. Get some homes built
By Anonymous