Stakeholders gathered at the Imperial War Museum to usher in a new dawn for the 370 acres around Manchester United’s stadium, which represents an opportunity to transform the underperforming area and a £7bn economic prize for the country.
The project, for which a masterplan is currently being drawn up, could deliver 15,000 homes and a new 100,000-seater stadium for the football club. To drive it forward, the Old Trafford Regeneration Mayoral Development Corporation has been established.
In attendance at the launch of the MDC today [Friday] were newly-appointed project director Karen Hirst, as well as GMCA chief executive Caroline Simpson, Manchester United’s chief operating officers Colette Roche, and Trafford Council Leader Cllr Tom Ross.
Collectively, they expressed excitement at the scheme’s transformational potential and a willingness to work collaboratively.
MDC chair Lord Sebastian Coe said the project had the potential to be bigger than the regeneration sparked by the London 2012 Olympics, which he spearheaded.
Sebastian Coe, OTR MDC, p Trafford Council
Lord Sebastian Coe will chair the MDC. Credit: via Trafford Council
He also told attendees at the event that the successful delivery of the sports-led regeneration of Old Trafford would require significant and often “painstaking” engagement with local people.
“Today is a defining moment, the beginning of a long-term commitment to transforming the Old Trafford area,” Coe said.
“We are now open for business – and there’s a lot to do. Over the next few months, we will share our outline masterplan and we will begin to make this vision a reality.”
Ross, who, as well as leading the council, lives at the heart of the masterplan area, said the launch of the MDC was a “very historic moment” for the borough and Greater Manchester.
“The hard work starts today,” he said.