Inside the Regeneration Masterplan for Manchester's Old Trafford Stadium

Manchester United and Trafford Council are working to turn Old Trafford and Trafford Wharfside into a flagship sports‑led regeneration zone anchored by a new world‑class stadium and mixed‑use neighbourhood.

The ambition is to create a globally recognised destination for football and major events, integrated with housing, business space and upgraded public facilities.
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Key strands of the emerging stadium district concept include:

• A new 100,000‑capacity stadium intended to be “the world’s best football stadium”, capable of hosting events such as the 2035 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
• A surrounding district plan worth an estimated £4.2bn in long‑term development value at Trafford Wharfside, led by the team behind London King’s Cross.
• A focus on walkable streets, improved waterfront access and better integration between Old Trafford, Salford Quays and the city centre via upgraded transport links.

The Old Trafford regeneration is being framed as a growth engine for Greater Manchester. Early estimates suggest that tens of thousands of jobs will be created across construction, hospitality, retail, media and professional services, with the Mayoral Development Area designation used to coordinate land assembly and investment.
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Several mechanisms are central to the economic strategy, such as targeted public funding, new commercial floorspace, and wider economic impact.

Up to £200m is reportedly being sought to fund infrastructural changes such as roads, transport and utilities, while the stadium itself is expected to be privately financed.

The wider economic impact of Old Trafford’s regeneration estimates potential UK-wide gains of around £7bn annually, once the stadium and district are fully established.

Old Trafford’s plans are tied into Trafford Council’s longer‑term Civic Quarter Area Action Plan, which sets out a 15‑year blueprint for a greener, denser, more liveable Old Trafford.

This plan envisages up to 4,000 new homes, extensive public realm upgrades and new community infrastructure in a 135‑acre zone that already includes landmarks such as Trafford Town Hall, Lancashire Cricket Club and UA92.

Within and around the stadium district, this is expected to translate into thousands of new homes, improved streets and active travel routes connecting residents to the stadium, and a more balanced local economy where matchday activity is complemented by everyday uses such as education, small businesses and leisure spaces.

One example of an upcoming property development in the area, Horizon Manchester, will bring 303 new homes to Old Trafford, with opportunities for units to be let out on a short-term basis, boosting tourism to the area.