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By-election win for Burnham could risk United project

The multi-billion-pound regeneration project that includes a new stadium for Manchester United could be plunged into a “period of uncertainty” if Andy Burnham wins the Makerfield by-election and vacates his present role, The Times can reveal.

While the Old Trafford Regeneration Mayoral Development Corporation received UK government approval in January, success for the ‘King of the North’ on June 18 means he would vacate the office of mayor immediately. A by-election would then need to take place by August 6. 

But there is concern among senior figures linked to the project that such a change could hinder progress on the building of 15,000 homes as well as a state-of-the-art 100,000-seat stadium on the 370-acre site, with a new mayor potentially able to withhold approval for some funding arrangements, direct the board to shift its focus to the residential development or deny the compulsory purchase of land should it be required. 

A spokesman for Reform UK said they would certainly be inclined to review what had previously been agreed should they gain power. 

“Any future Reform UK mayor of Greater Manchester would continue to support this important redevelopment programme for Old Trafford,” the spokesman said. “However, we would undertake a review of the project to ensure that the objectives and timelines are deliverable and that it has the right balance of public and private funding. It’s important that the project is not just a commercial success but should also bring benefits to Old Trafford and the wider Greater Manchester region.”

Burnham, a keen football fan, has been a significant supporter of the regeneration project and his potential departure is a source of some concern, with one source suggesting his political ambitions have created this “period of uncertainty”.

United will pay for the new £2 billion “Wembley of the North” stadium through private funding, while the public purse will meet the cost of the surrounding infrastructure and regeneration. Greater Manchester has already allocated a significant chunk of this newly launched £1billion “Good Growth Fund”. 

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