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The Trafford Council is eager to collaborate with Sir Jim Ratcliffe, co-owner of Manchester United, on his ambitious project to revitalize the southern area of the city.
Ratcliffe proposed two options for United to have a suitable stadium that matches the club’s stature: renovating Old Trafford or constructing a new stadium that would compete with Wembley in the north.
Ratcliffe believes that the additional income from either choice will play a crucial role in enabling United to consistently compete against their north-west adversaries Manchester City and Liverpool for both domestic and European titles. He declared on Wednesday his determination to overthrow both of them from the top spot.
He predicted that the redevelopment would require approximately £1billion, and he approximated that the new stadium and revitalization project would cost £2billion. He found no justification for not having some state funding to help with the expenses of the larger project, which he believes has the potential to greatly improve the surrounding area of the stadium.
United’s current leaders have collaborated with Trafford Council on their development plan for Trafford Wharfside. The council’s leader, Tom Ross, expressed enthusiasm for Ratcliffe’s vision.
Ross stated on Thursday during an interview with BBC Radio Manchester that there are two ideas merging: the possibility of constructing a new stadium proposed by Sir Jim, and our vision for reviving the housing in this area.
There is a great deal of anticipation within Manchester United regarding our partnership. We are eager to collaborate and bring our plans to fruition.
On Wednesday, Ratcliffe announced the formation of a task force to assess the possibility of constructing a new stadium. This group may also include former Manchester United player Gary Neville. It is reported that Trafford Council is likely to be asked to participate as well.
It is recommended that United includes local residents and small business owners in their plans as they determine their next steps.
According to Dr Tom Bason, a specialist in sports history and financial aspects of football at Coventry University, a study revealed that these communities were not adequately consulted in past redevelopment projects centered around stadiums, resulting in them being unable to afford to stay in the area.
Dr. Bason explained to PA that proper consultation should take place from the beginning to avoid the displacement issues that were seen around the Olympic Stadium in east London.
“It may not always be deliberate, but when you notice a significant rise in house prices or rent, such as 20, 30, or 40 percent, you may not necessarily be forced out due to your dwelling being demolished. However, you may still need to relocate from the area because the cost of living there becomes unaffordable.”
Similarly, in the world of commerce, the arrival of large corporations can lead to the proliferation of chain coffee shops instead of small, local cafes.
Sometimes it is not done on purpose, but when these types of local community organizations, residents, and businesses are not involved, this is the result that occurs repeatedly.
Source: independent.co.uk
