First images of Trafford City ice arena revealed as plans lodged
The 3,000-capacity venue would be constructed on a three-acre site next to Chill Factore and provide a new home for Manchester Storm.
Landowner Peel Waters and leisure developer ICITIES struck a deal to develop the arena in early 2024. At the time, the partnership also announced the venue would be operated by Planet Ice, which has signed a pre-let on what would its fifteenth ice venue nationally.
While providing a base for Manchester Storm, which currently plays its home games in Altrincham, the arena will also convert into a multi-use event space “suitable for on and off ice entertainment”, project partners said.
A sports bar, family restaurant, and party rooms also feature within the plans, designed by Aew Architects.
Taking into account existing and pipeline schemes, activities and sports available at Trafford City include skydiving, surfing, golf, ice skating, rock climbing, padel, and skiing.
ICITIES’ TraffordCity ice arena will be constructed close to two major leisure attractions due to come forward over the next couple of years – the £250m Therme wellbeing resort and Tartan Leisure’s inland surf park.
James Whittaker, managing director of Peel Waters said: “We have always had the aspiration to offer a sport for everyone at TraffordCity, whether it’s golfing, skiing, skydiving, football, gym or padel, there is no other destination in the country that brings together everything that’s available here in one place.
“Through this new arena, we will now be able to offer a wide range of ice-leisure activities for communities to enjoy taking part in or spectating, which in turn will also grow our visitor economy and bring in further investment into the area.”
Aew Architects is leading on design. Credit: via Peel Waters
Manchester Storm is in advanced discussions to relocate to Trafford City and Planet Ice also plans to work with Trafford Council to upgrade the existing facility in Altrincham.
Heath Rhodes, chief operations manager of Planet Ice, said the scheme would help to meet rising demand for ice-based activities in the region.
“This new facility will offer greater advantages to meet the high demand for ice time in the area as well as first rate amenities and service,” he said.
“The demand for ice facilities in the North West is outgrowing supply. In ice hockey terms, Manchester needs at least two ice pads to offer enough ice time. We are delighted to bring the second pad to TraffordCity providing access to a wider Manchester audience, with plenty of parking and neighbouring sports facilities.”
The estimated build time of the ice arena and event space will be approximately 12-15 months once the team starts on site.
This story will be updated with a planning reference number once the plans have been validated on Trafford Council’s planning portal.
Savills is advising on planning and Andrew Bain is the project manager. SCI, DEP, and Eddison are also advising.
Credit: via Peel Waters
what happens to the ice rink in Altrincham? Surely the two can’t survive.
By Anonymous
Traffic from a 3000 seat arena, just what is needed in an already massively over congested area. How can this possibly see the light of day.
By Anonymous
You cannot move around there now with traffic! So Therme arrives – there is a rugby match on at the stadium, Trafford Centre busy – most people arriving by car, all these new people move into Trafford Waters resi that is planned, match is on – can all this really happen? Without further misery for locals. How can the city council not make these developers pay for more infrastructure?
By Bob Dawson
Cool.
By Anonymous
I thought the plans for the surf place had been abandoned by Peel?
By Clouded Leopard
Would make more sense to extend the Metrolink to Trafford City than Stockport.
By Ram Tailor
N-ice! When did an rink become a pad?
By Bob
This is great for Manchester Storm. Manchester is also a hotbed of other minor sports such as basketball and netball with top clubs in Giants and Thunder. Both these teams would benefit from having a similar arena to play in.
By Anonymous
No expense spared on the CGI’s!
By Anonymous
Trafford City got a metrolink tram line about 5 years ago.
By Anonymous
The article doesn’t mention that you can snowboard at the chill factore, it’s not just for skiing!
By Sports Equality
Whilst I think this is great for the future of ice sports, the lack of transport infrastructure there is an already a nightmare. Despite all the talk about Therme being on-site, it was only enabling works and nothing has progressed. Trafford Waters currently fails to be anything inspirational (as usual with Peel). Damp squib
By Anon
@clouded leopard; not abandoned just frozen
By Olaf
Sounds great, but we already have terrible congestion at this section of the M60, over Barton Bridge.
We have the AJ Bell Stadium, the Trafford Centre, RHS Bridgewater, Chill Factore and Golf Range, the near junction with the M62 (and future Port Salford), plus extra housing developments at Worsley and Carrington. Let’s also not forget the traffic going over to Urmston or to matches at Old Trafford.
Many of us have to cross the Manchester Ship Canal to get to these destinations.
The area will be gridlocked.
By Irlam Resident
There won’t be any more traffic, everybody going here will be getting the tram
By Anonymous