Manchester United undoubtedly remained one of the biggest football clubs in the world. The club’s on- and off-field success is proof and testament. Despite struggling lately on the field, many still consider Manchester United as the biggest club in Britain.
Recently, the Manchester United family welcomed a big announcement by the government to support the regeneration project around the Old Trafford area.
Manchester United Regeneration Project Backed by UK Government
In a statement released on Saturday night, the UK Treasury said that Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves was promoting the Old Trafford project as “a shining example” of the government’s intentions to boost economic growth.
With the construction of a top-notch stadium for Manchester United at its core, the team is working with the Trafford Council and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to create ideas for the revitalization of the Old Trafford neighborhood.
While Manchester United would be responsible for building the stadium, support from public bodies would be essential to unlock the broader regeneration opportunities, including improved transport infrastructure and housing systems.
Omar Berrada, CEO of Manchester United, says:
“If we work together, there is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create a landmark project around Old Trafford that the whole region can be proud of.”
Reacting to the Treasury statement, Omar Berrada reiterated: “The delivery of a world-class stadium can be the catalyst for major regeneration of an area of Greater Manchester which requires new investment to thrive again.
“We cannot achieve that wider aim on our own, which is why we welcome the announcement by the Chancellor and the ongoing support of the Mayor of Greater Manchester and Trafford Council. If we work together, there is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create a landmark project around Old Trafford that the whole region can be proud of.”
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “With our devolved powers, we’re mobilizing the whole Greater Manchester system to lock in growth for the next decade and reap the rewards for our city-region and UK plc.
“The project around Old Trafford represents the biggest opportunity for urban regeneration this country has seen since London 2012 and is a key part of our 10-year plan to turbocharge growth across Greater Manchester. We look forward to working with the government on moving freight away from the site around Old Trafford to new locations to open up capacity for our rail network and unlock massive regeneration potential—delivering benefits across the whole of the North.”
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, says: “The project around Old Trafford represents the biggest opportunity for urban regeneration this country has seen since London 2012 and is a key part of our 10-year plan to turbocharge growth across Greater Manchester.”
Last week, the Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force published an initial options report, revealing findings that the project could generate an additional £7.3bn in gross value added to the UK economy and create more than 90,000 employment opportunities.
The task force determined that a redeveloped Old Trafford could increase the current stadium’s capacity to 87,000, while a newly built stadium could accommodate up to 100,000 spectators. Both options remain under consideration, with the club expected to finalize its preferred approach before the summer.
In the coming week, the Trafford Council and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority will discuss the advantages of establishing a Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) to help advance the project.
An MDC is a statutory body that facilitates large-scale development, including mixed-use regeneration, transformational urban extensions, and new settlements. It has the authority to acquire and develop land and implement new infrastructure—laying the foundation for an ambitious regeneration project aligned with Greater Manchester’s broader growth strategy.