Manchester United appoint Foster + Partners to develop Old Trafford masterplan

Manchester United have appointed Foster + Partners to develop a masterplan for the area surrounding Old Trafford as part of their ambitious regeneration project.

The Premier League club are looking either at redeveloping the nation’s largest club stadium, or to build a new one on adjacent club-owned land.

United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe favours a new ground and the Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force is understood to have centred its discussions on building a new 100,000-capacity stadium rather than redeveloping the existing ground.

The club have now appointed Foster + Partners “to develop a masterplan for the Old Trafford Stadium District, covering the Club-owned land that surrounds the existing stadium”.

The architectural practice is already overseeing the £50million modernisation of the Carrington Training Complex and United stressed in Friday’s statement that “the stadium itself will not form part of this exercise”.

The club say the ground “design will begin once the club has decided on the development options” but “a world-class stadium will ultimately sit at the heart of this ambitious new masterplan”.

Before Ratcliffe came onboard, architects Populous and management consultants Legends International looked at options for a new stadium or redeveloped one having been appointed stadium masterplanners in April 2022.

Foster + Partners worked with Populous on Wembley Stadium and Lusail Stadium, the host of the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar.

United chief operating officer Collette Roche said: “We have a clear vision to transform and revitalise the club-owned land around Old Trafford and we know that Foster + Partners is the best partner to help us develop the plans.

“This is an area of Greater Manchester ready for major new investment so that it can thrive once more, and we are determined to help deliver those outcomes.

“We want this area to become a true destination, that not only provides an unbeatable matchday experience for our fans, but also supports other forms of entertainment, leisure, business and residential facilities surrounding a world-class stadium.

“Lord Foster has unrivalled experience in delivering projects of this scale and ambition.”

Lord Foster, founder and executive chairman of Foster + Partners, said: “As a proud Mancunian, I am passionate about the chance to rebuild on Manchester’s great industrial heritage, creating a vibrant new mixed-use community, served by highly sustainable and improved transport links, providing homes and jobs for the local community, all catalysed by a world-class stadium for the world’s most famous football team – Manchester United.”

A new stadium is expected to cost in the region of £2billion and the Lord Coe-chaired Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force is expected to deliver its final recommendations by the end of the year.

As part of the process, United is sending surveys via email to season ticket holders, members and executive club members to ensure supporters’ views “are at the heart of plans for the future of Old Trafford and the regeneration of the Trafford Wharfside area”.

United say “the survey will cover fans’ current matchday experience, what they want their future experience to include and ask their views on new build and renovation options”.