Manchester United have confirmed the precise location of their proposed 100,000-seater arena, a vast new home that would become the largest football stadium in the United Kingdom and the centrepiece of a sweeping regeneration of Trafford Wharfside.

The new ground, informally dubbed New Trafford in club documents, will be built roughly 350 metres north-west of Old Trafford, on land the club recently moved to secure. The short distance underlines United’s intention to remain rooted in their historic neighbourhood while reshaping its skyline and economy.

The project forms the flagship element of the Wharfside Masterplan, a major redevelopment of the area surrounding the current stadium. The vision extends far beyond football: thousands of new homes, year-round sports and entertainment facilities, and upgraded public transport, walking and cycling routes are all included in the proposals.

Trafford Council will now be asked to approve the masterplan. If councillors give the green light, an eight-week public consultation is scheduled, with exhibitions and events across the borough to allow residents, businesses and supporters to scrutinise the plans and offer feedback.

Concept images released by the club show a dramatic, umbrella-style structure designed to harvest solar energy and collect rainwater, signalling an emphasis on sustainability. Three towering masts would make the stadium visible from up to 40 kilometres away, a striking landmark that architects suggest could be seen, on a clear day, from the outskirts of Liverpool.

Construction is expected to take around five years. During that period, United intend to continue playing at Old Trafford, their home for 115 years and currently capable of holding just under 75,000 spectators. The club has yet to decide the long-term fate of the existing ground once New Trafford is complete.

At 100,000 seats, the new stadium would rank as the second-largest in Europe, behind only Barcelona’s expanded Camp Nou. In England, it would surpass Wembley’s 90,000 capacity and dramatically increase United’s matchday attendance, with the new Stretford End alone projected to hold 23,500 fans across two tiers.

For United, the project is both a statement of ambition and a bet on the future of Trafford Wharfside, recasting a historic football stronghold as a modern urban district built around one of the sport’s grandest stages.