Overview
- This month’s Budget is not expected to allocate money to the Old Trafford scheme, with existing £600m regional funding for 2025–26 not earmarked for the project.
- Manchester United says it is not seeking public money for the £2bn–£3bn stadium build but requires government-backed support for enabling infrastructure across the wider Trafford Park plan.
- Negotiations to buy the neighbouring rail freight terminal remain stuck, with United offering about £50m and owner Freightliner seeking around £400m.
- United has explored lower-cost stadium variants, including a version without the tented roof centerpiece that could trim roughly £300m, as the original five-year build target toward 2030 drifts.
- Greater Manchester has designated the redevelopment area and is preparing a Mayoral Development Corporation, with Lord Sebastian Coe named chair-designate, while Treasury talks have been with GMCA rather than the club or Trafford Council.