Man Utd welcome plans for redevelopment around Old Trafford
- Trafford Council unveils vision for area around Old Trafford
- Clubs supportive of plans, suggesting relocation unlikely
- Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants stadium to be 'Wembley of the north'
Manchester United are welcoming plans from Trafford Council to regenerate the area surrounding Old Trafford, with the stadium one of five designated areas to bring new life to the community.
United are faced with their own plans for the future, with new 25% owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe intending to make Old Trafford into a 'Wembley of the north', likely through redevelopment or rebuilding from the ground up on the existing site, rather than relocating to a new site.
Staying put and working in the area that the club has called home for 114 years since 1910 appeared to be given further backing through a formal response to Trafford Council's plans.
Trafford Wharf, Heritage Quarter, Stadium District, Innovation Quarter and Wharfside Heart are the names that have been given to the various areas around the Wharfside. It has traditionally been a heavily industrialised part of Manchester, but the existing redevelopment of the waterfront area and the arrival of MediaCity has given rise to a major surge in the 21st century.
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Trafford Council's plan has "identified a number of potential development sites and will be used to set an overall strategy to guide future, well designed development in the area. The masterplan places nature and landscape at the heart of its vision, celebrates the Manchester Ship Canal waterfront and the Imperial War Museum, creates opportunities for up to 5,000 high quality new homes, connects Trafford Wharfside to the city centre and develops a high-quality setting for Manchester United as they develop their plans for a world-class football stadium."
It continued: "The vision for Trafford Wharfside is for an area of well-connected communities where all amenities, landmarks and public spaces are easily accessed. The vision supports the Council’s priorities to reduce health inequalities, supporting people out of poverty and addressing our climate crisis and will create a greener, more natural place in which to live and visit."
Manchester United chief operating officer Collette Roche said in response: "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."
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