Green light for £250m Therme Manchester development
The new design for the £250m Therme Manchester development has been approved by Trafford Council’s planning committee.
The updated scheme, which is predicted to create 600 jobs, features a pavilion-style concept immersed and enveloped in a natural landscape at its location within TraffordCity.
CGI of Therme Manchester interior
The decision coincides with the appointment of Prof David Russell as the first UK-based CEO of Therme UK and signals a shift in Germany-based Therme’s focus from design and planning to delivery.
With 30 years of experience in delivering large-scale projects, Prof Russell has been involved in major ventures around the world including the London 2012 Summer Olympics, The Rugby World Cup in Japan 2019 and the $8bn Expo 2020 in Dubai.
Russell takes up the role after a successful three-year tenure as CEO of a joint venture between Russell Partnership Collection, the UK’s largest food, nutrition, and technology consultancy, and Therme Group.
He will be supported by Richard Land, chief development officer of Therme UK, who has successfully spearheaded the planning process, and James Mark, who has been a leading part of Therme UK’s senior team since the project began.
Mr Mark now takes up the role of chief strategy officer for Therme UK, with a focus on developing further city-based wellbeing resorts across the UK.
CGI of Therme Manchester inner garden
Russell said: “Therme Manchester will be the UK’s first city-based wellbeing resort. Our ambition is to make a positive difference in millions of people’s lives whilst creating a new wave in urban living.”
As much as offering a fun and relaxing day out, the Therme Manchester experience is designed to benefit mental and physical health.
Attractions include large family and adults-only zones with swimming pools, slides, warm water lagoons and multi-sensorial saunas. Alongside this, elements such as water-based fitness classes, evidence-based wellness therapies, botanical gardens, immersive art, urban farms and educational activities create an integrated wellbeing concept for all ages.
The resort is forecast to contribute more than £4.5bn to the UK economy, according to an independent PwC study, with most of the positive impact in the Greater Manchester area.
James Whittaker, executive director – development at Manchester-based developer Peel L&P, said: “After five years working in partnership with Therme, we are delighted to hear planning permission has been approved for this incredible, high quality health and wellbeing resort in TraffordCity.
CGI of Therme Manchester North Plaza
“We’re looking forward to working closely with the whole of the Therme team to deliver something truly unique and iconic in the UK, that is not only world-leading for health and wellbeing, but will also create a significant number of new jobs and have a huge positive economic impact for North West England.”
Cllr Tom Ross, leader of Trafford Council, said: “I am very pleased that the planning committee supported this application.
“This wellbeing resort is a huge £250m leisure development which is the first of its kind in the country and we are delighted it is being built here in Trafford.
“The resort will attract millions of visitors each year and will add significantly to the local economy during construction and once operational. It will also create more than 1,500 person-years of construction jobs and 600 permanent full time jobs.
“The development sits a short walk from the latest Metrolink extension and supports several of our key commitments by improving health and wellbeing, providing connectivity for cyclists and pedestrians, creating a new public realm, and regenerating a vacant brownfield site in a sustainable location.”
Construction is set to commence later this year, with an estimated duration of 24 months for completion.
