Manchester United want to redevelop their Old Trafford home and the surround (Image: Getty)
have received a major boost in their hopes of landing public funding for the regeneration of Old Trafford after Chancellor announced she would champion the project.
Co-owner and the surrounding area. The 71-year-old’s stake in United includes £273million for the redevelopment of the stadium, but that money would not come close to covering the kind of renovation he seeks.
His plans have now received Government backing after Reeves revealed that she will champion the project. The Government said the plans, which will also include new housing, commercial and public spaces, would be a “shining example of the bold pro-development model that will drive growth across the region”.
Ratcliffe but is yet to decide whether Old Trafford will be redeveloped or rebuilt entirely. A task force has been created to examine ways to regenerate the area, and includes Mayor of Greater Manchester and former United captain .
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Burnham announced last week that plans to redevelop the surrounding area will go ahead regardless of whether a new stadium is built. Six ‘growth locations’ have been identified which Burnham believes could add £13billion to the economy.
Meanwhile, Ratcliffe said last year: “The people in the north pay their taxes like the people in the south pay their taxes. But where’s the national stadium for football? It’s in the south. Where’s the national stadium for rugby? It’s in the south.
“Where’s the national stadium for tennis? It’s in the south. Where’s the national concert stadium? It’s the O2, it’s in the south. Where’s the Olympic Village? It’s in the south.”
United fans have long complained about the state of Old Trafford. Leaks have been a common source of amusement for visiting supporters, while a press conference was disrupted by flowing water in December.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has backed plans to regenerate the Old Trafford area (Image: Getty)
The last major refurbishment of the stadium took place in 2006, when 8,000 seats were added to the north-west and north-east quadrants of the stadium.
Ratcliffe told United’s website last year: “If you look at our role at , there are two key issues that we have to address. One is the football, which is performance on the field, which is is always going to be our priority with .
“But the second one, the second big issue is where the stadium sits today.
“It’s not quite of the standard you would expect of today and it’s fallen behind. Maybe 20 years ago, it was [at the standard], but today, it’s fallen behind.”