Man United stadium plans delayed by Freightliner land dispute

Manchester United's ambitious plan to build a new 100,000-seat stadium next to Old Trafford faces significant delays due to a land dispute with Freightliner, the rail freight terminal owner. United values the land at around £40-50 million, while Freightliner demands approximately £400 million, leading to stalled negotiations and a potential impasse. The project, initially estimated to cost £2 billion, now could reach £4.2 billion, including the unique trident design by Foster + Partners and additional infrastructure. Despite the dispute, United remain confident in their five-to-six-year timeline aiming for a 2030 completion, partly motivated by hosting the Women’s World Cup final in 2035 and the projected economic benefits of £7.3 billion and 92,000 jobs. Possible solutions include a compulsory purchase order by Greater Manchester's mayor or acquiring part of the land to start construction while negotiating the remainder. However, the deadlock could force United to either increase their offer, wait for Freightliner to reduce its price, or scale back the stadium design altogether.