Reworked £250m Therme Manchester unveiled
Refreshed proposals for the 28-acre wellbeing resort are due to be submitted to Trafford Council in a matter of weeks, more than three years after the first iteration of the scheme was given approval.
The revised vision is for a similar-sized venue to that which was approved in 2020. However, the glass roof is out and the new design features a 100,000 sq ft urban wellbeing garden, inspired by an English meadow, according to Therme Group.
Planning permission for Therme’s original proposal was granted in 2020 by Trafford Council.
Last year, the developer said it was reworking the project to create a “more sustainable, engaging, and accessible experience”.
Those plans featured a multi-storey car park near Peel L&P’s Trafford Palazzo and ‘living’ waterslides. These elements remain part of the most recent plan.
The project was also reworked to reduce the amount of steel required in a bid to improve its environmental credentials.
Since that vision was announced, additional changes have been made, delaying the resubmission of plans by 12 months.
A statement from Therme said the concept for the project has “moved from being principally a single building with zones and undulating roof line, to a more pavilion-style concept with separate, connected structures which are immersed and enveloped in a natural landscape.”
The previous scheme was approved in 2020. Credit: via Therme Group
The revised scheme will have three entrances, improving access for visitors.
Indeed, much of the redesign is intended to improve the experience of visitors when travelling to the resort.
A landscaped green boulevard and the creation of a new connection to the Bridgewater Canal will enhance the link from the resort to Manchester city centre, allowing better access for pedestrians and cyclists, Therme said.
The MSCP remains part of the plans. Its roof will double up as an outdoor customer terrace.
Inside the resort, visitors could enjoy more than 25 pools and more than 35 waterslides.
“Therme Manchester will have a transformative impact on the city and individuals,” said Stelian Iacob, senior vice president of Therme Group and chief executive of Therme Group UK.
“The scale of the project and its architectural character will be interwoven through the landscape into the urban fabric. The link to Bridgewater Canal will create a literal and metaphorical connection to Manchester’s past and its centre.”
Therme will feature an urban beach and waterpark. Credit: via Rule 5
A consultation on the revised scheme is now live.
Subject to planning approval, the 24-month construction programme could begin later this year.
Iacob added: “We are confident that Therme Manchester will be a catalyst for a wave of local urban development that, over time, will bring new homes and jobs and will create opportunities for the wider area.
“As such, we hope that our project will act as an urban anchor and a destination that gives a fresh identity to this area of the city.”
The demolition of the former EventCity venue recently completed, clearing the path for Therme to be built.
James Whittaker, executive director of development at Peel L&P said: “We are very proud to be working in partnership with Therme Group to bring their first landmark wellbeing destination to the UK.
“As the UK’s foremost retail, leisure and commercial destination, TraffordCity already attracts more than 40m visits a year and we are working closely with Therme Group to ensure that Therme Manchester is accessible to as many people as possible, with strong, sustainable and well-connected links to the city centre, Trafford Palazzo and The Bridgewater Canal.”
The new scheme is certainly (from the outside) a far more pragmatic approach to building a leisure scheme on the fringes of an industrial estate and also given our typical weather – so in my opinion looks all the better for it. Hopefully there’s been no scrimping on the interior and landscaping to provide the hedonistic / tropical escapism such an attraction is surely aiming to achieve as its main USP.
By Anonymous
This project is starting to turn into a joke. So much marketing and fan fair but very little has actually happened. Also love this “more sustainable, engaging, and accessible experience”, real meaning, value engineered to death to save money. These companies need to stop treating people like fools. Put up or shut up springs to mind.
By Bob
I assume the redesign comes on the back of the quote for window cleaning.
By JB
Ok, I’ll go with new one, looks interesting. The Whole Trafford city area is going to be incredible in a few years especially with this and Trafford Waters going ahead.
By Simon
Looks more iconic and visible.
Still prefer glass over the white roof material, whatever it is?
My only concern is how the white roof material will weather overtime in the changeable Manchester climate.
The public realm and landscaping looks much better.
By Jrb
Still looks good. Get it Built!
By New Wave
It looks like the relatively newly planted trees here along Barton Dock Rd, which replaced the previous mature poplar trees that were felled, are going to be chopped. The life expectancy of young trees in GM is pretty short. Leave some to become mature!
By Harpsicord
Now if trafford planners could come up with a sensible proposal for the wharfside area the whole place will start to push forward
By Cheggers
Bob above stating that very little has happened and bemoaning ‘value engineering’. Tell me that you know nothing about commercial leisure development without telling me you know nothing about commercial leisure development lol…
By Bob the builder
I hope Northern Companies get to quote and work through specifications of products to be used on site!
Northern contractors. Architects, ID’s and subbies etc, let alone suppliers!
By Tash
At the current rate of progress there will be a manned space travel to the moons of Jupiter and high speed trains across the Northern cities before this one gets built.
Only joking there’ll just be the people on Jupiter’s moons when it opens.
By Dr B
Can’t wait to get on them water slides…😂👍🏻
By Rodders
The new design looks horrible I’n contrast to the old one Manchester is the wrong part of the uk for those trees shown the access from the tram is hidden behind the Trafford Centre and the volume of space is reduced in. The interior to incorporate the forest outside which will ultimately be abandoned in the long term as it is leisure that is the primary focus having more pools/rides = more customers = more tranquillity across the scope
By Anonymous
A lot of outlets were reporting that work has already started on this in March. Was that total nonsense then?
By Levelling Up Manager
They were reporting on the completion of the EventCity demolition, which clears the path for Therme. No construction work on the actual scheme has taken place and won’t until the latest plans are approved. Thanks, Dan
By Dan Whelan
Glad the Old Event city is demolished now. They can actually get on with the build now. It’s going to be mighty busy around there with Trafford Waters already under construction and this starting soon.
By Charles
Bob- you’re spot on, a hefty dose of cost cutting (sorry, VE) will have led to this!
JRB – The white roof is likely going to be like Victoria station which has an ETFE roof
By JB
I prefer this design over the previous one but it all hinges on the quality of materials and the finish. Glad they are linking it to the Bridgwater too. I can cycle from the RHS to here …there’s a day out right there!
By Worsley flyer
This looks better. In fact I love the look of this.
By Anonymous
@bobthebuilder maybe so, but I’ll put money on this not starting this year, or next for that matter. Hopefully I’m wrong as I think it will be a fantastic asset for the city.
By Bob
So does this mean Rhyl will become a ghost town when this is built.
By Ron
I’ve asked Peel L&P to stream the construction live on YouTube. I wonder if they have listened.
By Jomo