Old Trafford

The newly revealed masterplan for the Old Trafford Stadium District by Foster + Partners is a reminder that sport, place, and city identity are deeply intertwined. Yes, it’s about football, but it’s also about framing one of the UK’s most famous grounds within a wider, more connected piece of Manchester.

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The ambition here is clear: green links, civic spaces, layered history, and a sense of place that extends far beyond match day. It’s the kind of thinking we’re always drawn to, where legacy isn’t preserved in amber, but reimagined for how people live, move and gather today.

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What’s particularly interesting is the shift in tone. Less spectacle, more substance. A focus on experience, not just capacity. And a reminder that great placemaking doesn’t shout – it builds, quietly and confidently, over time.