Man Utd have reached a breakthrough to acquire land around Old Trafford, which is key to building a new stadium.
What a new Old Trafford could look like.(Image: Manchester United)
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Manchester United have secured the majority of the land to build a new 100,000-seater stadium. United had been in talks with Freightliner to acquire land behind the Stretford End, but talks had stalled, leading the club to look at alternative options for land around the current stadium
United have now announced they have struck a deal for a different plot of land located approximately 350m north-west of the current stadium. It's a 25-acre triangle, approximately 350m from Old Trafford (located between Wharfside Way, Europa Way and John Gilbert Way).
United have aquired the majority of the land in the highlighted plot.
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The land has been purchased from Indurent, a leading provider of industrial space and a Blackstone portfolio company. United now have the majority of the land needed for their project and will continue to work on acquiring the remaining land, which is not expected to be a problem.
United's design work on the new stadium had been paused while talks with Freightliner took place. United had been in discussions with Freightliner for a year before considering other options.
The club believes they have obtained a fair deal to buy land from Indurent. United can now continue with their design work, and Foster + Partner is set to oversee the design of the ambitious 100,000-seater stadium.
Collette Roche, CEO, United’s new stadium development, said: “Today’s news highlights the progress we’re making towards a world-class new home for Manchester United and represents a significant milestone as we move into the next phase of development.
“Being able to build so close to Old Trafford allows us to preserve the heritage, traditions and rituals that are so important to our fans. We are committed to building a world-class stadium with our supporters, not just for them, with atmosphere, affordability and accessibility at the heart of our thinking.
"“This is a generational opportunity that is fully aligned with both local and national growth ambitions. Securing the right land for our new home has been absolutely critical, and the land we’ve acquired gives us the stage to deliver a truly world-class stadium that honours our past and is ready for our future.”
United will engage directly with businesses impacted by the plans to support them through the transition period. The Mayoral Development Corporation will publish the wider masterplan for the Old Trafford regeneration project and details on the formal consultation period on 9 July. United have confirmed supporters will continue to be consulted during the stadium design phase.