Q&A How Levelling Up could fund grand plans

Q. Why would the Government use public money on Old Trafford?

A. With a general election this year, a battleground will be competing visions of the rejuvenation of the North.

Many councils have yet to spend money allocated from the third and final round of the £4.8 billion Levelling Up fund.

There may also be money left over after Rishi Sunak’s scrapping of the northern leg of HS2, which was followed by a promise to divert £36 billion into transport in the Midlands and North.

The Levelling Up and Regeneration Act became law last year, encouraging councils to plan for the building of new homes. For Old Trafford to benefit, it would have to be included in a wider vision for regeneration in left-behind communities.

Q. How would this investment differ from Manchester City’s stadium agreement?

A. City are council tenants at the Etihad, formerly known as the City of Manchester Stadium, a 48,000-seat venue built for the 2002 Commonwealth Games. Around £78million from the National Lottery and £49million from the city council contributed to its build, and it was converted to a football stadium at the public’s expense, too.

United would retain ownership of their stadium, while City, despite investing heavily in improvements and agreeing naming-rights deals, retain a lease arrangement with the council on a “fully repairing” basis, which means all operating, maintenance and future capital costs are borne by the club.

Q. Have any other clubs targeted Levelling Up funding?

A. Yes, but only at the other end of the football pyramid. Fans and MPS last year filed an expression of interest for funds over a proposal to buy Southend United’s dilapidated Roots Hall. Events have overtaken the application, however, with Ron Martin agreeing to the sale of the club to a consortium.

There was state support, however, for Bury’s return to Gigg Lane this season after the club’s Football League expulsion in 2019. In Bury’s case, around £1.3million was made available – £450,000 from the local council and the rest from Levelling Up funds.