Trafford to approve reworked plans for £250m Therme 

One of the region’s most hotly anticipated developments is in line for a fresh planning consent after proposals for the 28-acre waterpark and wellbeing resort were updated earlier this year. 

Trafford Council granted Therme planning approval for an earlier iteration of the £250m scheme in March 2020.

Next week, more than three years on, the authority’s planning committee is expected to rubber-stamp the project for a second time, with planning officers describing the development as a “well-designed, distinctive, unique building”.

Since the first approval, the site – previously occupied by Events City – has been cleared but no construction has taken place. The original planning consent has now expired, prompting the developer to lodge revised proposals in July. 

Working with Therme’s in-house architecture practice Therme ARC, alongside design studios Fletcher Priest and GROSS.MAX, has made a raft of changes to the earlier proposals. 

The most notable change concerns the complex’s roof. While the first iteration of the eagerly-anticipated project featured a glass roof, this element has been omitted from the updated plans as Therme moves from the idea of a single building with zones to a more pavilion-style concept. 

While the glass roof is out, the new design features additions such as a 100,000 sq ft urban wellbeing garden, inspired by an English meadow, and additional entrances, according to Therme Group.    

The scheme was first revealed in 2019. Credit: via planning documents

A pair of multi-storey car parks featuring more than 1,500 spaces also form part of the plan, as do more than 25 pools and more than 35 waterslides.  

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, improving access for pedestrians and cyclists. 

The sustainability of the project has also been improved; Therme has reduced the amount of steel being used and committed to using renewable sources of energy including heat pumps and PV panels. 

The resort is split into four main zones:

Galaxy – An area for families featuring flumes wave pools, and relaxation areas

Palm – This part of the resort focuses on relaxation and rejuvenation and features swim-up bars, therapeutic mineral baths and steam rooms

Elysium – A zone dedicated to allowing visitors to explore historical traditions of wellbeing, with an emphasis on thermal therapies.

Genesis – A concept designed to enhance physical and mental health featuring advanced body scanners and one-to-one sessions with expert therapists.

Subject to approval, Therme hopes to be on site later in 2023, the year the firm had first earmarked for the project to complete. 

To learn more about the project, search for application reference 111318/FUL/23 on Trafford Council’s planning portal. WSP is advising on planning.