The resort is powered by specialist technology than can produce 1,000 waves an hour. Credit: via planning documents

Trafford’s £75m surf attraction progresses after two-year hold-up 

Scottish outfit Tartan Leisure has been brought in to lead the project, replacing McKinney Group more than two years after the council granted approval for the inland lagoon. 

Peel Waters, which owns the 15-acre brownfield site off Barton Dock Road where the surf resort will be built, secured planning consent for the scheme in September 2021. 

After planning consent was granted, it was anticipated the resort would open in 2023. However, McKinney was unable to secure funding for the project, according to Peel. 

Tartan Leisure has now been appointed to deliver the £75m attraction and is partway through the construction of a similar facility in Edinburgh called Lost Shore Surf Resort. 

Andy Hadden, founder of Tartan Leisure, said: “There has been an enormous rise in popularity for surfing over recent years with proven benefits to our overall health and wellness.  The Lost Shore Surf Resort in Edinburgh is on track to open next September and the response and appetite that we have seen from the public has been phenomenal.    

“Now, we are excited to work in partnership with Peel Waters and bring over a decade of our knowledge and expertise to support the development of an inland surfing facility to TraffordCity. This will be a very exciting addition to an already incredible combined retail and experienced-based leisure destination for all to enjoy.” 

Surf Resort trafford, Peel Tartan Leisure, p Peel

The scheme [right] in the context of other developments at TraffordCity, including Therme. Credit: via Peel L&P

The £75m development will be the first inland surf destination in the North of England, according to Peel. 

Using inland surfing technology powered by Wavegarden, the TraffordCity attraction will produce 1000 waves every hour at different intensities and have capacity for up to 90 people to surf at any one time. 

James Whittaker, executive director at Peel Waters, said bringing the Tartan Leisure on board to deliver the project was “a huge step forward.” 

The scheme will contribute to the growing offer of sport and leisure activities available at TraffordCity. Visitors can already ski, play golf, and skydive there and will soon be able to play padel after plans for an 11-court complex were announced this summer. 

Perhaps the most eagerly anticipated proposal coming forward is Therme, a £250m luxury spa and waterpark. 

“TraffordCity is widely recognised as the leading retail and leisure destination in the country and the addition of the new surfing destination will further complement the surrounding businesses and other experience-based leisure attractions we have here,” Whittaker added.  

“We are excited to bring another iconic attraction to the region which will further enhance the local economy and tourism as well as creating a pipeline of new jobs and hopefully inspire a new generation of surfers from the city.” 

Alan Bisseker, a surfing coach who counts seven-time women’s national champion Lucy Campbell among his clients, said the development would be a “gamechanger” for landlocked surfers. 

“There are few sports that give you as many health and fitness benefits as surfing,” he said. 

“This, combined with the significant positive impact on mental health and wellness is undeniable and well-documented.  At a time when current and soon-to-be landlocked surfers need it most, this new facility will bring a surfing revolution to Manchester and the North of England and I can’t wait.” 

A date for construction to begin has not yet been confirmed. Peel estimates the build will take two years. 

Leslie Jones Architecture is the lead architect for the project and Exterior Architecture is the landscape advisor.

The plans for the scheme can be viewed by searching for application reference number 104705/FUL/21 on Trafford Council’s planning portal.

Your Comments

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The Trafford centre gets more and more family friendly as the city centre gets less and less family friendly

By DH

This is interesting and I agree, with this, the Trafford Centre, golf options, ski slope, waterpark & more, this area is becoming a huge entertainment neighbourhood. But it really is time to wake up and realise our measly Metrolink with single cars (2 at best) is not up to capacity required for a large city. Don’t get me wrong, I like Metrolink, but anywhere else in Europe, a proper metro system would be built along with an S-bahn/RER type service as well

By EOD

Another fabulous addition to Manchester and the north west as a whole. Trafford city and Salford Quays are really adding to the city centre as leisure and office destinations. The city is flying now, long may it continue.

By Cal Smate

Powering all these facilities, this would include the Therme, doesn’t appear to be an issue in this day and age. Have we missed a trick, @ExtensionRebellion?

By Climax Scientist Trust

This is a really great compliment to Therme. With the all the other things nearby it really is becoming Manchester’s playground. Agree that the Public transport needs to improve though.

By Anonymous

And still, active travel connections between Urmston, Eccles, and this development, remain woefully inadequate.

By flixton resident

Love all of the development around here. When Trafford Waters is finished in the next few years and these large leisure facilities are completed I hope the transport links have really been considered, ie Metro extension and buses otherwise it’s going to make today’s congestion seem like light traffic.

By Worsley flyer

Not even started building it

By Jarrod

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