Enabling works underway on £250m Therme Manchester

The 28-acre resort and spa is one step closer to opening with the securing of permission for planning amendments and the start of the clearing of the TraffordCity site.

Therme Manchester has permission to host more than 10 pools and 18 waterslides, as well as a wellbeing garden, more than 25 saunas and steam rooms, health and nutrition areas, oxygen rooms, a snow room, and multi-sensory showers.

The scheme has been in the works for years, with initial planning permission granted in 2020 before undergoing a major refresh in 2023. The section 73 application approved Tuesday by Trafford Council put additional amends on the 2023 document. This included material changes to reduce the carbon footprint of the building as well as water usage.

The changes also provided the inclusion of ground- and air-source heat pumps.

A drop-off point was added off Phoenix Way – an entry that joins the regular car access from Mercury Way as well as walking and cycling routes from Bridgewater Canal and Metrolink.

P.P. O’Connor is on site handling the enabling works, with hoarding already in place. This includes the demolition of existing concrete slabs on the site, which was formerly known as Eventcity. These slabs will be conserved and reused during construction.

A 200-metre bore hole has already been drilled as part of the enabling works programme. This was to confirm the natural thermal capacity of the site off Barton Dock Road.

A main contractor has not yet been announced for the scheme, but Sir Robert McAlpine’s name shows up in planning documents.

Enabling works are well underway for the £250m Therme Manchester. Credit: Matthew Nichol Photography via Rule 5

Therme Group, which is behind the resort, estimates that construction will take between 24 and 30 months. It has declined to offer an opening date for the resort.

The company operates similar facilities in Europe, with plans in place for Therme resorts in Scotland, Canada, and South Korea.

David Russell, chief executive of Therme Group UK, said he was “delighted” to secure approval for the planning amendment for Therme Manchester.

“This development will stand as a beacon of wellbeing and innovation, contributing to the cultural and social fabric of Greater Manchester,” he continued.

“Local contractors are delivering the initial works, and we will remain committed to contributing significantly to the community and the local economy.”

P.P. O’Connor is handling the demolition and site clearance for Therme Manchester. Credit: Matthew Nichol Photography via Rule 5

Therme Manchester will sit within Peel Waters’ wider TraffordCity development.

Peel Waters managing director James Whittaker described how the resort fits into the group’s vision for the area.

“TraffordCity is all about bringing unique and experiential leisure concepts together in one accessible location; Therme Manchester will not just be a gamechanger for Greater Manchester but for the North West and the UK,” Whittaker said.

“The resort will offer something which has never been seen before in the UK and we are looking forward to continuing to work closely with Therme Group to deliver this exceptional offering.”

The project team for Therme Manchester includes planner WSP, BWB, Ensight Solutions, Toren, Buro Happold, Reform, TTHC, RWDI, and EuroFins. The complex has been designed by Therme’s in-house architecture firm: Therme Arc.

You can review the application for yourself by searching reference number 114046/VAR/24 on Trafford Council’s planning portal.