“The Greater Manchester Combined Authority has approved the establishment of a mayoral development corporation (MDC) to oversee a masterplan of the area to facilitate some of the land assembly,” he told BBC Radio Manchester.
“But there’s plenty that can be done if an agreement cannot be reached.
“The real action is only going to get going in the autumn with the MDC,” he added.
Manchester United has said the entire project has the potential to create 92,000 new jobs, will involve the construction of 17,000 homes, and bring an additional 1.8 million visitors to the area annually.
It add that the project will be worth an additional £7.3bn per year to the UK economy.
Freightliner has said it is open to moving operations out to ILP North, a new depot planned for the border of Warrington, St Helens, and Wigan 17 miles away.