Government backs Man Utd plan to redevelop Old Trafford and build Britain’s biggest stadium

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has publicly backed plans for the redevelopment of Manchester United’s home ground Old Trafford.

Plans to regenerate the area around Old Trafford were last week approved by the government, championed as ‘a shining example’ of their plans to promote economic growth.

United are set to make a decision at the end of the season whether to redevelop the existing stadium into an 87,000-capacity venue or build a brand-new 100,000-capacity ground which has been dubbed ‘the Wembley of the north’.

Backing the plans led by the club and Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, Reeves said on Wednesday: ‘We are supporting key investment opportunities across the UK.

‘The government is also backing Andy Burnham’s plans for the redevelopment of Old Trafford which promises to create new housing and commercial development around a new stadium to drive regeneration and growth in the area.’

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, whose INEOS group completed its minority takeover of the club last year, has made building a new stadium key to his plans to lift the faltering Premier League giants.

Old Trafford last underwent renovations in 2005.

United will pay for whichever option they eventually choose, but the initiative has been boosted by the UK Government and Trafford Council both giving their backing to plans to provide public funds to regenerate the area around the stadium over recent days.

Burnham said the project, which also involves relocating freight terminals, will benefit other parts of the north-west, as well as his city.

He told BBC Breakfast: “This truly… it’s one of those rare projects that’s a win-win, the benefits will be felt far and wide.

“On the east of Manchester, if you look at what’s happened there – and the Commonwealth Games helped that with public money at the time – Manchester City have taken that and poured so much investment in themselves to improve the east of Manchester.

“Imagine that being balanced on the west of Manchester with another major football campus.

“This, without a shadow of a doubt, will be the global capital of football in the rest of the 21st century.”