Manchester United has reaffirmed its commitment to building a new 100,000-seat stadium at Old Trafford, a project central to the regeneration of the surrounding area. The club has welcomed the inclusion of the Old Trafford Regeneration project within Mayor Andy Burnham's Greater Manchester Growth Plan, a 10-year strategy designed to boost economic growth and social improvement across the region.
The new stadium project, initially proposed in March 2025, aims to create a world-class football venue and a vibrant business, leisure, and residential district. The development has the potential to deliver substantial economic benefits, estimated at £7.3 billion per year, and create approximately 92,000 new jobs. In addition to the stadium, the regeneration project includes plans for over 17,000 new homes and is expected to attract an additional 1.8 million visitors annually.
Manchester United's Chief Operating Officer, Collette Roche, expressed the club's enthusiasm for the project's inclusion in the Greater Manchester Growth Plan. She stated the club's ambition to build the world's best football stadium, suitable for hosting major international events, including the 2035 FIFA Women's World Cup. The new stadium is envisioned as a catalyst for growth, surrounded by a thriving district with excellent transport links.
Mayor Andy Burnham has lauded the Old Trafford Regeneration project as the UK's most significant sports-led scheme since the London 2012 Olympics. He has appointed Lord Sebastian Coe, who led the delivery of the 2012 Olympics, as Chair-designate of a new Mayoral Development Corporation to drive the project forward. Burnham envisions Greater Manchester becoming a "second city to rival any other on the planet by 2050," with the Old Trafford project playing a key role in achieving this goal.
The first phase of investment includes an initial commitment of £26 million for 382 new homes as part of the Trafford Wharf development. Funding has also been allocated to create more than 800 new homes at the Trafford Wharf and Stretford Mall sites. The Greater Manchester authorities view the Old Trafford Regeneration project as a priority, recognizing its potential to stimulate economic growth and community development.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, co-owner of Manchester United, has described the project as "an incredibly exciting journey" towards delivering the world's greatest football stadium. He emphasized the importance of preserving the essence of Old Trafford while creating a state-of-the-art stadium that transforms the fan experience. The new stadium will be built next to the existing site, ensuring continuity with the club's rich history.
While initial concept work from Foster + Partners, featuring a striking canopy, is being reconsidered due to negotiations regarding adjacent land, the project remains on track. The designs unveiled in March showcased a vision for an "outward looking" stadium that would be "the beating heart of a new sustainable district". The entire site is planned to be walkable, well-served by public transport, and integrated with nature, creating a mixed-use environment that benefits the entire community.
The Old Trafford Regeneration project has garnered widespread support, with over 50,000 people consulted during the proposal phase. The project is seen as a "once in a lifetime opportunity" to create a world-class sporting venue and a thriving economic hub. The project aims to pioneer a new model of economic growth, focusing on serving the needs of communities and driving investment directly into areas that need it most.
