Old Trafford set for new stadium

Old Trafford could look very different in a few years © Getty Images

The future of Old Trafford has moved a step closer to being safeguarded after Lancashire signed up to a four-way sports-leg regeneration scheme, which includes a new 25,000-seater stadium. The club has joined partners Trafford Borough Council, Ask Developments and Tesco in forming a redevelopment plan for the area.

The ground will form the lynchpin of an anticipated 750,000 sq ft development and will include conferencing and banqueting facilities, a hotel, education, training and other sports opportunities for the local community.

Various options for development are now being considered. The development partners are considering a mixed-use scheme of significant quality with business space, residential, retail, hotel, leisure and other supporting development with a potential end value of £190m. More than 2,000 new jobs could be created by the development.

Lancashire chief executive Jim Cumbes said: "The Old Trafford brand has a massive standing in world cricket. The club has been on the same site since 1857.

"Our membership and cricket lovers everywhere recognise the contribution that the club makes locally to the economy through visitor attraction, image, marketing and employment in the Borough.

"Together with our local partners, the North West Development Agency and Sport England, we will work towards delivering a scheme which will have at its heart a new stadium fit for the next 150 years, and which will be recognised as world-class standard, fit for the UK's greatest sporting city region and serving the huge cricketing hotbed in the north west."