A team has been assembled to look into maximising the growth and regeneration opportunities of the Trafford Wharfside area around Old Trafford football ground in Manchester.
Manchester United said an advisory team, led by an independent director, will be appointed to support the ongoing work to develop an ambitious overall vision for the area around the stadium.
Manchester United, Trafford Council, and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) are joining forces to push the initiative forward.
Old Trafford is a football stadium in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, England (UK) and the home of Manchester United F.C. With a capacity of 74,310 it is the largest club football stadium in the United Kingdom and the 12th-largest in Europe.
Manchester United Football Club, commonly referred to as Man United (often stylized as Man Utd), or simply United, is a professional football club based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, England (UK). The club competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football.
Manchester United said the advisory team will focus on how a world-class stadium can catalyse wider regeneration, bringing social and economic benefits to all of Trafford and the surrounding city region.
The appointed director and advisory team will ensure alignment with the existing Trafford Wharfside masterplanning process and the work of the Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force, the group of local leaders and national experts set up in March to explore options for a new or redeveloped stadium at the home of Manchester United.
The Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force has suggested that it would be a better option to transform the stadium rather than redevelop the existing ground.
Lord Coe, Chair of the Task Force, said: “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.
“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. The tripartite advisory team will help fully unlock this incredibly exciting potential.”
Technical and project management support will be provided by the advisory team to Trafford Council, GMCA and Manchester United as planning work intensifies, with the group also delivering important guidance to inform the final recommendations of the Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force.
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham added: “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.
“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.
“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.”
Councillor Liz Patel, Executive Member for Economy and Regeneration at Trafford Council, added: “We have ambitious regeneration plans for the Trafford Wharfside area. 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.
“Trafford is proud to be the home of Manchester United, we already attract thousands of visitors every year, this transformational change will make it the perfect visitor destination for new businesses to invest in.
“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.”
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