The Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force has completed its initial feasibility work to explore options for a new or redeveloped Old Trafford, as Manchester United moves closer to deciding on the future of its home stadium.
An Options Report has been submitted by the Task Force to executive bodies at United, Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and Trafford Borough Council.
The Task Force, which was set up last March to oversee options for the regeneration of the Old Trafford area of Manchester, has determined that a redeveloped Old Trafford could increase the capacity of the existing stadium to 87,000, while a new-build stadium would allow capacity to reach 100,000.
United said that both options remain under consideration, with the club set to decide on its preferred approach ahead of the summer. A survey carried out by United back in November found that the majority of fans would prefer a new stadium.
United believes a new world-class stadium would act as a “catalyst for wider regeneration of a re-energised Trafford Park”. Initial findings suggest the project could deliver an extra £7.3bn (€8.6bn/$8.9bn) gross value added to the UK economy and more than 90,000 employment opportunities.
These findings are based on the club building a new 100,000-seat stadium alongside other mixed-use developments. Old Trafford has a current capacity of 76,000.
The club surveyed more than 50,000 fans, with more than 90% of supporters saying they were positive about the plans to deliver a “world-class stadium”. Some 52% declared support for the new-build option, with redevelopment of the existing stadium preferred by 31%. A further 17% said they were unsure.
Following the publication of the Options Report, Trafford Council and GMCA will discuss the benefits of establishing a Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) to help drive the project forward. An MDC would be able to take on powers to acquire and develop land, laying the groundwork for any regeneration project.
The Regeneration Task Force includes London 2012 chair Lord Sebastian Coe, Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, and former United captain Gary Neville. Other members include Trafford Council chief executive Sara Todd, Trafford Council leader Tom Ross, Manchester United Supporters’ Trust chief executive Duncan Drasdo, and Peel Land associate director Anna Bensky.
Lord Coe 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.”
Burnham added: “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.”
In September, United offered a first glimpse of what a rebuilt Old Trafford could look like as the club released the findings of an economic report that was led by Oxford Economics. The early renderings only showed Old Trafford from a distance and did not offer any close-up views of the stadium.
It has been reported that a new stadium would cost United more than £2bn and take six years to complete. United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has previously set out his vision for a 100,000-capacity stadium that would rival the revamped Estadio Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid and the Spotify Camp Nou in Barcelona.
