Bold new plans to transform and regenerate an area surrounding Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium have been unveiled by a council.
The proposals paint an exciting vision for the future of Trafford Wharfside as Ineos owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe's £1.3bn deal to buy a 25 per cent share of the Premier League giants, poised to be confirmed next week, appears to herald a huge period of change within the club and likely stadium redevelopment.
A masterplan outlines a new 'processional route' to the stadium, north along Sir Matt Busby Way, and a major new 'world-class public space' framing the whole of the stadium.
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A new public park is planned for the sprawling plot of land and a new primary school could be built - with the waters of the Manchester Ship Canal providing a backdrop for a new community of homes, attractions, leisure and business.
The Wharfside area - covering around 200 acres - sits on the south bank of the ship canal opposite Salford Quays, with the football ground, the Imperial War Museum North and Victoria Warehouse all lying within its boundary.
Trafford council, in a draft masterplan set to be approved by councillors next week, calls it a major development and regeneration site due to its size and strategic position, citing its future residential and employment opportunities. Manchester United and neighbouring landowners including Peel have helped draft the proposals, together with Salford city council.
The masterplan places nature and wildlife 'at the heart of the vision'. Changes to the area must also 'celebrate' the waterfront - with the use of pontoons and piers referenced - and connect the Wharfside area to Manchester city centre.
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"Based on those principles, and the Wharfside's excellent connectivity both in terms of transport and access to employment and leisure centres, the area offers an opportunity to create a new place which balances major destination places with more community focused spaces," says the document.
"Therefore, the vision for the Wharfside area is for it to become a dynamic and ultra-connected network of five-minute communities where all amenities, landmarks and public spaces are easily accessed within five minute walks. These five minute communities would come together to connect the whole of the Wharfside area, with amenities and public open space being strategically paced where these communities meet.
"Ultimately, the vision will create a greener, more natural place which offers a balance between engaged community spaces and major global destination spaces. The result will be an attractive, connected and natural place to live, visit and dwell."
The draft framework envisages future potential for the area in terms of commercial, residential, mixed-use and sports. The plans reference a new public park at the heart of a new residential community, including the integration of cycle routes.
Towpath enhancements along the Bridgewater Canal are proposed, with 'increased opportunities for the recreational use of the canal and potential water taxi connections into Manchester'.
"The Wharfside area will be a world class waterfront space, becoming a destination within the city region and a place tha tmatches the global role of this area," says a draft document.
"A strategy should be required for greening the waterfront. Three new public spaces will celebrate the arrival to the space. The spaces are arranged around the two existing pedestrian bridges which connect to Salford, as well as a future connection to Clippers Quay at the Wharfside Metrolink.
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"These spaces will be highly active with a programme of events and public art utilised to celebrate the space, coupled with a concentration of active uses framing these spaces and emphasising them as destinations."
A total of 5,000 new homes, the majority said to be apartments, are also referenced. The document states the area 'can accommodate a large number of tall buildings ,ranging from six storeys to 30 storeys'.
Under the plans the site would be split into distinct areas:
Trafford Wharf - a northern area of Wharfside bordering the Manchester Ship Canal
Bounded by Trafford Wharf Road to its south., the site represents the edge of Trafford and overlooks Salford across the river, with key views of MediaCity and Salford Quays.
The document says: "The walkway along the waterfront is underwhelming and underused. Characterised as Trafford Wharf, this northern area will provide a key public realm route along the waterfront, capitalising on the fantastic views and connection to Salford Quays and MediaCity."
The area is earmarked for residential homes, cultural destinations, hotels and retail.
"Subject to the masterplan, and mindful of respecting the setting of the Imperial War Museum North and the Heritage Quarter, there is the potential for some high quality landmark development, including some higher rise development, along the waterfront, together with attractive public open space," the draft plan.
Heritage Quarter – adjacent to Trafford Wharf
The site is the bounded between Sir Alex Ferguson Way, Wharfside Way and Trafford Road, which includes the Bridgewater Canal running through the south of the site. Victoria Warehouse and the Telephone Exchange lie within its boundary.
"There is potential to provide improved access and activity to the Bridgewater Canal along Victoria Quay with new improved public realm adjacent to Victoria Warehouse.
"All new development will need to respect the character and setting of these heritage assets."
Stadium District – Manchester United area
United's stadium is described as a 'key asset' - with the plans outlining a new 'processional route' to the stadium, north along Sir Matt Busby Way.
"Development for the Stadium Quarter will be guided by the presence of the stadium itself. Improved public realm and green space will be in its immediate proximity, with the opportunity for mixed-use residential development further outwards within the zone," says the report.
The plans include a major new 'world-class public space' framing the whole of the stadium - 'designed to accommodate high levels of match day footfall and events, whilst being adaptable for day-to-day use outside of these times'.
Innovation Quarter – western area of Wharfside.
The Innovation Quarter is the western area of the masterplan, bounded by Warren Bruce Road and Europa Way on its western edge.
"There is great opportunity to build upon the industrial usage and character of the site, with great industrial sector demand," say the plans.
"Included within the character area are existing buildings of great architectural character and heritage to be creatively reused and refurbished. The combination of reuse and new build can cater to creative studios."
Wharfside Heart – connecting the four other character areas together
The Wharfside Heart is the area to the core of the development, connecting the site as a whole.
"This zone will provide a high quality, landscape and residential-led neighbourhood," say the plans "The public realm will include a green route linking Trafford Wharf with the Stadium district, together with significant areas of public open space, including a public park with children's play areas.
"There will be an area allocated for a new primary school and other community facilities, together with a mobility hub to cater for the car parking needs of the site."
Collette Roche, chief operating officer at Manchester United, hailed a 'tremendously exciting' vision. "We are proud to be supporting Trafford council with their ambitious plans for an area with such huge potential," she added.
Councillor Liz Patel, Trafford council's executive member for economy and regeneration, said the council was 'looking to create new homes, new neighbourhoods and help create a world-class setting for the Manchester United stadium'.
"The Trafford Wharfside masterplan offers a regeneration vision for a hugely important area within Trafford," said coun Patel. "Across the water we can see the transformation of MediaCity and we know this area will too see great change over future years. We want to help shape that new development positively."
The public will be given the opportunity to give their views on the strategy in a consultation due to be launched in the near future.