Nature-wildlife nucleus of Old Trafford vision

Article posted by Coliseum, April 11^th, 2025

Image: Foster and Partners

Plans to transform and regenerate a sprawling area of land around the Premier League team Manchester United F.C.’s home venue – the Old Trafford football stadium in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, England (UK) – have taken a major step forward.

‘Manchester EveningNews’ stated that the Trafford Council has confirmed the appointment of a consortium to design a strategic master plan.

The Manchester United Football Club, commonly referred to as the Man United (often stylized as Man Utd), is a professional football club based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, England. They compete in the Premier League, the top tier of English football.

The Old Trafford is a football stadium in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, England (UK) and is the home of the Manchester United F.C. With a capacity of 74,197 it is the largest club football stadium (and second-largest football stadium overall after the 90,000-capacity Wembley Stadium in Wembley, London) in the United Kingdom and the 12^th-largest in Europe.

‘Manchester EveningNews’ further stated that the above follows the unveiling by United in March of plans for a new 100,000-seat stadium to replace the Old Trafford with the proposals called ‘the centerpiece of the regeneration of the Old Trafford area’ by the Premier League club. The images and models of what the state-of-the-art new stadium could look like were also revealed with the plans said to have the potential to bring more than £7bn a year into the economy of the United Kingdom.

The bold plans for the Trafford Wharfside area (a key strategic part of Trafford) were first unveiled in February last year.

The Council said on April 9^th that the consortium, led by the architects Allies and Morrison, will “carry out its plan to revitalize the Trafford Wharfside leading to thousands of new homes and jobs in the area”.

London (UK)-based Allies and Morrison are architects and urbanists. The firm strives to design beautiful buildings that have long life and can adapt over the generations. They also shape enduring places whether new pieces of City or settlements at any scale. The architecture firm’s projects are concerned with the crafting of every detail and an appreciation for the uniqueness of each context.

The master plan will focus on the area adjoining United’s ground, especially the waterfront opposite Media City, and was described by the Council as presenting a “tremendous opportunity for future growth and development as well as commercial and leisure facilities”.

The initial plans outlined a new “processional route” to the stadium North along the Sir Matt Busby Way and a major new “world-class public space” framing the whole of the stadium.

A new public park is also planned and a new primary school could be built – with the waters of the Manchester Ship Canal providing a backdrop for a new community of homes, attractions, leisure, and business.

The Wharfside area – covering around 200 acres – sits on the South bank of the ship canal opposite Salford Quays with the football ground, the Imperial War Museum North and the Victoria Warehouse all lying within its boundary.

The plan said it would place nature and wildlife “at the heart of the vision”. Changes to the area must also “celebrate” the waterfront – with the use of pontoons and piers referenced – and connect the Wharfside area to the Manchester City Centre, it added.

The consortium, which also includes the SLA landscape (an internationally renowned nature-based design studio), Civic Engineers and the property specialists JLL (a leading global commercial real estate and investment management company), was appointed following an intensive tender exercise, said the Trafford Council.

A spokesperson said, “It will work with the Trafford Council alongside the Manchester United Football Club, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), a proposed Mayoral Development Corporation, and the other key partners to deliver a transformational and sustainable international destination for the benefit of the residents, the businesses and the visitors. The master plan is aimed to be completed early next year.”

Commented Councilor Liz Patel, Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Economy and Regeneration, “The Old Trafford regeneration is one of the biggest growth opportunities in the United Kingdom and will be fantastic for our borough. New homes, new neighborhoods, new businesses, new jobs, new green spaces, and new community facilities – all within walking distance of public transport. A lot of publicity has been about Manchester United’s new stadium – this regeneration will complement those plans and our master plan will be central to shaping the future of this area. We are delighted to be starting the master planning in earnest and look forward to working with the project team to deliver a comprehensive vision for the neighborhood.”

Paul Eaton, Partner at Allies and Morrison, said the Trafford Wharfside area had long been recognized for potential regeneration. Now he said it had the opportunity to “become a thriving new neighborhood”.

Added Eaton, “Our team will shape a proposal for the area that realizes this exciting potential, a sustainable, deliverable vision that integrates the new homes and employment with sport supporting Trafford’s aspirations and ambitions for the future. This is a huge opportunity for Trafford, for the City and for our Manchester studio. We are delighted with this appointment and look forward to working with the Council and its partners.”

Continue to follow Coliseum for latest updates on venues business news. Coliseum is dedicated towards building the best global community of sports and entertainment venue executives and professionals creating better and more profitable venues.

Become a member of the only Global Sports Venue Alliance and connect with stadiums, arenas and experts from around the world. Apply for membership at coliseum-online.com/alliance and make use of the 365Coliseum Business.

Watch 420 member-exclusive videos with valuable tips for your venue