McAlpine appointed to build £450m Therme Manchester
The appointment of a contractor for the much-anticipated spa, waterpark, and wellbeing resort follows the announcement of a €1bn strategic joint venture between Therme Group and investor CVC earlier this year.
Sir Robert McAlpine has been appointed to build the £450m located on 28 acres acquired from Peel Waters at TraffordCity.
The announcement of a construction partner for Therme Manchester – arguably one of the most eagerly anticipated projects in the North – is a significant milestone for a project that has laboured towards a start on site.
First unveiled in 2019, Therme Manchester has endured market volatility and undergone multiple redesigns to get where it is today.
Initial planning permission was granted in 2020 before undergoing a major refresh in 2023.
A further section 73 application approved in 2024 by Trafford Council permitted additional amends, including tweaks to reduce the scheme’s carbon footprint.
The project will feature more than 10 pools and 20 waterslides, as well as a wellbeing garden, more than 25 saunas and steam rooms, botanical gardens, health and nutrition areas, immersive art, oxygen rooms, a snow room, and multi-sensory showers.
Once complete in 2028, the attraction is expected to draw in around 2m visitors a year and will be the “largest water-based wellbeing destination in Europe”, according to the Therme Horizon JV.
Trafford City’s Therme will be a key attraction for Manchester’s visitor economy. Credit: via Rule 5
Professor David Russell, chief executive of Therme UK, said: “We are delighted to appoint Sir Robert McAlpine to support the management of construction for Therme Manchester.
“Their unrivalled expertise in delivering large scale, complex projects, along with a shared commitment to excellence, community and sustainability, makes them the ideal team to bring Therme Manchester to life.”
Neil Martin, chief executive at Sir Robert McAlpine, described Therme as a “visionary project”.
“Therme Manchester represents a major investment in wellbeing, sustainability, and community infrastructure, and we are excited to play a part in shaping its future,” he said.
Cllr Tom Ross, Leader of Trafford Council, said the scheme is a coup for Trafford.
“The Therme project is fantastic news for Trafford, and I am delighted it is being built in our borough.
“The resort will attract millions of visitors each year to boost our economy and will provide hundreds of construction jobs and full-time jobs. It supports several of our key commitments by helping provide a thriving economy, improving health and wellbeing and regenerating a vacant brownfield site in a sustainable location.”
James Whittaker, managing director of Peel Waters said: “We have been on a long partnership journey with Therme Group. Since our first meeting and experiencing Therme’s world-leading concept, Peel Waters have worked hand in glove with Therme Group to bring this phenomenal experience to TraffordCity, Manchester.
“Following on from the preparation of the site and carrying out the demolition works of the former ‘EventCity’, we are now extremely pleased to see the appointment of Sir Robert McAlpine in readiness for delivering this truly transformational, unique wellness resort, which will be a complete gamechanger for health, leisure and the visitor economy in the North.”
Believe it when I see it happen. This scheme has had more press releases than any other I’ve known and until the doors open, I’ll remain sceptical.
By anon
And when are all these planners going to address the real issue of traffic chaos already coming off the M60 visiting the Trafford Centre, and david Lloyds, and the new Trafford Waters build currently under development .
By Nettie
Thanks very much for the extra traffic in the area it’s a nightmare as it is you morons
By Mr c
Great to see this finally get going
By Steve
Just what we need, !! More traffic congestion?.
By Anonymous
This is another Mayfield, and another London Road Fire Station.
By Elephant
This looks an amazing project&impressive it’s still happening,despite challenges over the years.
Hope its a real success,seen contractor’s onsite the other day.
By Peteinthecity
Ignore the perennial whiners talking about traffic congestion – always the most boring people in the room are the ones talking about traffic. Ignore the boring snowflakes, we need jobs and economic growth.
By Anonymous
More traffic
By Anonymous
This is economics growth and tourist. The road problems will come and council will have to put some funding towards road upgrades, it usually doesn’t happen the other way round anyway. Demand first and then road upgrades occur.
By Anonymous
The M60 in this location is not functioning: in rush hour (3-6pm) it daily takes me (and thousands of others) 25-30 minutes to travel on the motorway the 2-3 miles or so from the Sale area to the clearer traffic north of Swinton. Take a look at live traffic flow information on Google Maps between 3pm and 6pm each day, and see for yourself. The intersection of the M602 and M62 with the M60, as well as the lengthy queues to enter the Trafford Centre are the cause for this. This new facility will generate new user activity (ie new additional car-based traffic), and will not on the whole be linked trips to the Trafford Centre itself. This really is bad news for the motorway the communities that rely on it. The economic and well-being impacts aside, try getting an emergency vehicle through this area. It’s a mess.
By Charles
Can’t believe the comments, the naysayers, the congestion critics and the inward looking negativity about this. It has planning ; has been subject to consultation and subsequently approved. It’s had a few false dawns although so have many things due to the economic climate but its great to see an inward investor wanting to deliver this, bringing jobs,leisure and tourism to the region.It looks like this anouncement means its finally happening, great.
By Alf Full
Roll on the day. Can’t wait to try this out
By Anonymous
This is going to be a nightmare. The traffic congestion is terrible all year worse around christmas and you want to build an attraction to bring even more traffic to the area….disgusting!!!!!
By Anonymous
Perfect location ,, next door to Manchesters largest sewage plant
By Anonymous
With over 2 million visitors a year aswell as Trafford Centre traffic is anything going to be done about the road infastructure as it’s already a nightmare.
By Robert Ashton
Therme is a fantastic facility & spa – James and the Peel board have done their research on this one! This will rival Romania spa and that’s a world class one – best one they have been to. But yes the traffic will be bad the people coming for a spa won’t be getting on the tram will they – get that bit!
By Ophelia Tette
Always the oddbods in the comments, waking up to pull themselves away from another day shouting into Instagram to share their bile with the world. Luckily they are absolutely irrelevant 🥳. This will be an amazing resource for the North West when it’s built and as I cycle up the Bridgewater Canal at the back of it I shall smile at them missing out on the joys of the world.. oh if only they could get here!
By Chicken Lidl
The M60 M602 just won’t cope and the surrounding areas. You already have to much congestion and worse on matchdays . Are the highways going to build a massive flyover direct to the new spa only because that’s what will be needed. You can’t put square pegs in round holes. How will the staff get to work on time. This is not America with super fast massive highways with 5 lane motorways direct to these facilities. I.e Disney World. Wake up and smell the coffee,
By Anonymous
A direct super flyover to the spa. Is the only answer. This sort of facility should have been build well away from any congestion.
By Anonymous
I bet the people all complaining about traffic congestion drive, contributing to congestion. Like complaining about the murder rate while shooting someone in the face. If you’re that bothered about traffic congestion get on your bikes. Don’t complain about a scheme which will bring money and jobs into the economy just because you’re too selfish to get past the fact that it might add an extra few seconds to your stupid car commutes
By Anonymous
You bloody idiots M60 is a nightmare, Trafford centre,man Utd home games, airport traffic but council doesn’t give a monkeys , money money money
By Anonymous
National Highway planning is done, probably in London, Local Road Planning locally, and Building Planning locally, but to what purpose, and Capital Investment decisions made anywhere but locally. End result: a muddle. Surprized?
By Anonymous
I live local to the trafford centre, whilst good for employment, its a nightmare to travel any where local between 3 and 6 as other people have said , they build these places without it seems without consultation with local people , with whom it’s going to impact, and never put the inferstucter in place to cope .
By Driver
Time to build a proper transport system for GM that is rapid and out of the way of traffic. Get some cars off the road in this area! 🙂
By Underground
You can’t have a Therme without thermal water. There is no such water in or around Manchester.
By Mrs G Murray
hurry up
By oscar