09.04.2025
SLA wins 150 ha Trafford Wharfside masterplan in Manchester
We are thrilled to share that we – together with Allies & Morrison, Civic, and JLL – have been awarded the task of creating a strategic masterplan for one of the UK’s largest urban development projects: The transformation of the 150-hectare, £4.2 billion Wharfside district around Manchester United’s legendary Old Trafford stadium.
The project has been commissioned by Trafford Council and will be developed in close cooperation with Manchester United Football Club, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, and a Mayoral Development Corporation.
“We are extremely proud to continue our work in England with one of Europe’s most iconic urban areas. Trafford Wharfside offers a unique opportunity to create a green, vibrant, and inclusive neighborhood rooted in Manchester’s rich cultural and natural heritage – from the cradle of industrialization and raw harbor areas to Manchester United’s global brand in sport and entertainment.”
— Rasmus Astrup, design principal and partner at SLA.
The project’s ambitions are significant: More than 17,000 new homes, jobs, recreational areas, and cultural and leisure facilities are to be realized in the area.
The new strategic masterplan will make possible a new stadium for Manchester United (designed by Foster & Partners), incorporate iconic cultural institutions such as The Imperial War Museum North, and at the same time form the foundation for a future-ready and resilient urban development.
The strategic masterplan for Wharfside is expected to be completed in early 2026.
“This project is not just about urban renewal or creating space for a new mega stadium – it’s about rethinking the entire relationship between city, sport, nature, industrial history, the experience economy, and social cohesion. Our approach is based on the best in nature-based urban design, where green spaces, biodiversity, and climate resilience go hand in hand with social and economic values for the benefit of the local community.”
— Rasmus Astrup, design principal and partner at SLA
Contact us to know more
Francisca Álvarez
Senior Project Manager, Associate Partner, Urban Planner
08.10.2026
The Danish Arts Foundation awards Lifetime Honours to Stig L. Andersson
The Danish Arts Foundation has decided to award its Lifetime Honourary Grant to SLA’s founder Stig L. Andersson. The Lifetime Honourary Grant is awarded to artists and architects who have made an exceptional contribution to Denmark’s arts and cultural life.
15.07.2026
Introducing: Expo Valley Sanctuary
At the heart of Expo City Dubai, we are creating Expo Valley Sanctuary: a 107,000 m² living nature sanctuary that redefines what urban development can be in the UAE.
21.04.2026
Team SLA wins The International Quarter in Esbjerg
We are excited to share that Team SLA has won the project to design the new green heart of The International Quarter in Esbjerg.