UK: Regeneration specialist Peel L&P has taken the next step towards a £250 million wellbeing resort opposite the Trafford Centre in Manchester.
Peel has submitted plans to Trafford Council to demolish the 300,000 square foot former EventCity conference and exhibition space on Barton Dock Road to make way for the scheme, which it says has the potential to create around 1,200 jobs.
The 28-acre resort, opposite Trafford Palazzo and The Trafford Centre, will be built by global wellbeing destinations developer Therme Group, which has achieved success with similar resorts across Europe over the past 20 years.
By “combining nature, sustainable technology and culture”, Therme aims to help improve visitors’ health and wellbeing. Proposed attractions at the resort include Greater Manchester’s first all-season urban beach, a “next generation” waterpark, thermal pools, a wellbeing spa, digital art, an onsite urban farm and botanical gardens.
James Whittaker, Peel L&P’s executive director of development, said: “Therme Manchester is an attraction like no other and it’s incredibly exciting to be making preparations to bring the UK’s first resort of this kind to TraffordCity for people of all ages to enjoy.”
“It will attract visitors and investment from across the globe to TraffordCity and the wider city region and we’re proud to be the host venue for such an exceptional development with a strong focus on sustainability, health and wellbeing,” he added.
Richard Land, chief development officer at Therme Group UK, added: “We are delighted to have reached this critical stage with Peel L&P, which marks the beginning of on-site works for Therme Manchester. An iconic project for the city as well as for the entire UK, this milestone confirms the arrival of Therme in the north. It also solidifies our vision for 90 per cent of the UK to be within easy reach of a Therme destination, with future developments planned for Glasgow, London and other key cities.”
Construction of Therme Manchester is set to begin in 2023 with a build time of approximately two years.
