Plans To Regenerate Area Around Old Trafford Football Ground
New plans have been put forward to regenerate the land around Old Trafford football stadium, home of Manchester United. The area also neighbours MediaCity, the 200-acre development on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal in Salford. Insider Media reports that the plans will be up for consultation by Trafford Council, with public input.
The project, known as Trafford Wharfside, will include up to 5,000 new homes, green landscaped areas, business and innovation zones, and a heritage area adjacent to Trafford Wharf. There will also be connections to the city centre, and the area will be integrated with other developments such as the Imperial War Museum and Old Trafford stadium.
Cllr Liz Patel, Trafford Council’s Executive member for economy and regeneration, said: “The Trafford Wharfside masterplan offers a regeneration vision for a hugely important area within Trafford.”
She added: “This area takes in the world-famous sporting institution that is Manchester United as well as other major sites including the Imperial War Museum and the Manchester Ship Canal.”
“Across the water we can see the transformation of MediaCity and we know this area will too see great change over future years. We want to help shape that new development positively through the Trafford Wharfside Development Framework and Masterplan.”
Collette Roche, chief operating officer at Manchester United, added: “This vision for Trafford Wharfside is tremendously exciting and we are proud to be supporting Trafford Council with their ambitious plans for an area with such huge potential.”
“We will continue to work closely with the council, and other local stakeholders, on how any future development work at Old Trafford can complement their vision and, most importantly, benefit the local community.”
There is speculation that Manchester United may redevelop their existing stadium after the British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe acquired a 25 per cent stake in the club. Sky News reports that Ratcliffe has plans to create a ‘Wembley of the North’ to rival the 90,000 seater stadium in London.
Manchester United own about 100 acres of land adjacent to the Wharfside, which may be a potential site for a new stadium.
Football fans and pundits have pointed out that the current stadium, although much-loved, is in need of improvements and refurbishment. United We Stand Editor Andy Mitten told Sky Sports News: “The main stand does need doing, so does the roof, but the exterior of the stadium needs doing too.”
He added: “It looks a little bit red in different areas and there are fundamental issues with Old Trafford which are not great. The legroom is notorious in the stadium. The designs of stadiums have changed since then when they first designed stadiums and the legroom is still the same now.”
“It’s a beautiful stadium, Old Trafford – but I’m not a fan of the roof because I think it comes in too low. Old Trafford shouldn’t be getting smaller, it should be getting bigger.”
Elsewhere in Manchester, Bruntwood Scitech have begun work on a £25m redevelopment of the Grade II listed Pall Mall building on King Street in the city centre. The new space is described as an ‘innovation hub’ and will consist of leased, serviced and co-working space across three interconnected towers.
Ciara Keeling, chief operating officer for Bruntwood SciTech, said: “Bruntwood SciTech has a strong blueprint for creating innovation ecosystems, having undertaken significant projects across many of the UK’s cities and regions.”
She added: “We believe that these hubs are not only essential to the development, growth and success of many exciting innovation-focused businesses, but can play a significant role in transforming our regional economies and putting the UK on a path to achieving its ambitions of being an innovation powerhouse.”
“Work commencing on our redevelopment of Pall Mall marks an important step in our mission to power economies through innovation, supporting Manchester to continue growing its support for the knowledge economy, and becoming a more environmentally sustainable city. “
The project will emphasise the importance of health and wellbeing of the building occupants, with indoor planting, a large outdoor piazza, a free gym, a rooftop garden, a lounge and a contemplation room.
Dragonfly have been appointed as the principal contractors and Ramboll are the sustainability consultants. The project is set to be completed by 2025.
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