In September 2024, Manchester United and other key stakeholders unveiled the first images of their proposed master plan for the redevelopment of Old Trafford. In response, we created our own unofficial version.

Our goal was to explore what could be achieved with fewer constraints than those likely imposed in reality, envisioning a new district of Manchester with the scale and ambition to elevate the city’s national profile. We also took into account the hopes and aspirations of fans—both for the new stadium and the legacy of the existing site. The outcome was unexpected, even to us.

Excluding the new stadium, our master plan envisions approximately ten times the space allocated in the official scheme albeit over a wider area. This translates to a potential for 50,000 new dwellings, compared to just 5,000. From a massing standpoint, the area appears well-suited for this scale of development. Given the latest ONS forecast of a five-million increase in the national population over the next seven years, shouldn’t we be considering a higher density of development in this case?

Setting low horizons for scale and quality has historically failed to produce a waterfront befitting the quays. Let’s not repeat the same mistakes. Can we find ways to make the economics and bureaucracy align with the opportunity? The net benefits seem obvious: a better piece of city for everyone, greater growth and prosperity, and perhaps, through cross-financing, even a second landmark building for Manchester United. Unlike a football match, urban development is not a zero-sum game.