Major Delays Hit Man Utd's Ambitious Plans for 100,000-Capacity Stadium as New Timeline Emerges

MANCHESTER UNITED’S opening date plans for a new “Wembley of the North” is set to be derailed by red tape.

The major blow means could be pushed back by at least a year.

Manchester United’s opening date plans for a new ‘Wembley of the North’ could be pushed backCredit: AP United unveiled plans for a new £2billion arena in March 2025Credit: PA

A new 100,000-seater stadium was originally set to cost the club a mammoth £2BILLION, a figure that emerged with the plans 12 months ago.

But buying the necessary land next to is a stumbling block, as the rail freight business behind the Stretford End wants at least £400m to move out.

Freightliner has yet to agree to the sale of its land, where much of the stadium and the wider Trafford Park regeneration project are set to be built.

And now, the eye-watering cost is not the only massive headache for bosses—timescale has become an official issue.

While Freightliner believes a deal can be struck, the company might be not be able to move out of the land until 2031.

Freightliner want their new home to be at the Intermodal Logistics Park North (ILPN) in St Helens, Lancashire.

But the company’s planned escape route to a sprawling six-million square foot mega-park is stuck in red tape.

Planning permission to expand the ILPN by a further two-million square foot is still in the late stages of consultation.

If agreed, it is understood that it won’t be operational until 2031 – one year after Ineos had initially planned its grand unveiling.

Freightliner has stated they are open to allowing some phased building work to begin on their current land while they transition, provided it doesn’t disrupt their services.

However, this would still prevent United’s record-breaking stadium from being completed close to the original timeline.

United may change their plans, with the current project still in the design phase.

Well-placed sources say talks around various land options are ongoing and progress is being made.

United could scrap the canopy circus tent roof as plans are still in the design phaseCredit: PA

The design of the stadium is also not final as the with costs estimated to be £200m.

Minority owner , who unveiled the project with architecture firm Foster + Partners last February, hoped for spades to be in the ground by now.

But it has taken a year for the first official board meeting of the Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC), chaired by Lord Sebastian Coe to be held.

Former United chief operating officer Collette Roche is now chief executive of the new stadium development.