The new design for Therme Manchester has received approval from Trafford Council’s planning committee. The updated scheme features a pavilion-style concept immersed and enveloped in a natural landscape. The decision coincides with the appointment of Professor David Russell as the first UK-based CEO of Therme UK and demonstrates a shift in Therme’s focus from design and planning to delivery.

With 30 years of experience in delivering large-scale projects, Professor Russell has been involved in major ventures around the world including the London 2012 Summer Olympics, The Rugby World Cup in Japan 2019  and the $8 billion Expo 2020 in Dubai.

Russell takes up the role after a successful 3-year tenure as CEO of a joint venture between Russell Partnership Collection, the UK’s largest food, nutrition, and technology consultancy, and Therme Group.

Russell will be supported by Richard Land, Chief Development Officer of Therme UK, who has successfully spearheaded the planning process, and James Mark who has been a leading part of Therme UK’s senior team since the project began. Mr Mark now takes up the role of Chief Strategy Officer for Therme UK, with a focus on developing further city-based wellbeing resorts across the UK.

When asked to comment on the approval of the planning permission, Russell said:

“Therme Manchester will be the UK’s first city-based wellbeing resort. Our ambition is to make a positive difference in millions of people’s lives whilst creating a new wave in urban living.”

 

As much as offering a fun and relaxing day out, the Therme Manchester experience is designed to benefit mental and physical health. Attractions include large family and adults-only zones with swimming pools, slides, warm water lagoons and multi-sensorial saunas. Alongside this, elements such as water-based fitness classes, evidence-based wellness therapies, botanical gardens, immersive art, urban farms and educational activities create an integrated wellbeing concept for all ages.

The resort is forecast to contribute over £4.5 billion to the UK economy, according to an independent PwC study, with most of the positive impact in the Greater Manchester area.

James Whittaker, Executive Director – Development at Peel L&P said:

“After five years working in partnership with Therme, we are delighted to hear planning permission has been approved for this incredible, high-quality health and wellbeing resort in TraffordCity.

We’re looking forward to working closely with the whole of the Therme team to deliver something truly unique and iconic in the UK, that is not only world-leading for health and wellbeing, but will also create a significant number of new jobs and have a huge positive economic impact for North West England.”

Cllr Tom Ross, Leader of Trafford Council, said:

“I am very pleased that the planning committee supported this application. This wellbeing resort is a huge £250m leisure development which is the first of its kind in the country and we are delighted it is being built here in Trafford.

The resort will attract millions of visitors each year and will add significantly to the local economy during construction and once operational. It will also create more than 1,500 person-years of construction jobs and 600 permanent full-time jobs. The development sits a short walk from the latest Metrolink extension and supports several of our key commitments by improving health and wellbeing, providing connectivity for cyclists and pedestrians, creating a new public realm, and regenerating a vacant brownfield site in a sustainable location.”

The £250 million construction is set to commence later this year, with an estimated duration of 24 months for completion.

ENDS

For further information, please get in touch with Rob, Alison or Ana at firstname@rule-5.co.uk or via contactus@rule-5.co.uk.

About Therme Group & Therme Manchester

Therme Group is a global wellbeing leader, driven by an inclusive vision of 'Wellbeing for All'. Therme's landmark entertainment and wellbeing destinations are a unique immersive environment based on ancient traditions of thermal bathing combined with modern technology. 

This unique blended experience includes water-based activities, fitness programming, attractions, wellbeing therapies, art and culture, botanics, food, and nutrition. 

As much as a fun and relaxing experience, Therme's projects benefit mental and physical health, rejuvenating those who visit while making a positive economic and social impact on the communities they serve. 

Environmental consciousness is at the heart of Therme, using sustainable design and technology to create affordable and inclusive environments that welcome millions of visitors every year. With more than 20 years of experience, Therme Group and its strategic partners operate four facilities in Europe. In addition, they have multiple destinations worldwide in development, including the UK, mainland Europe, North America and Asia Pacific.

Therme Manchester will provide the city with an urban oasis which enhances mental and physical health. It is the first in a nationwide rollout of the Therme concept, set to include Glasgow, London and Wales. The UK rollout reflects Therme’s ‘90/90’ vision, working to make a Therme accessible to 90% of the UK population within a 90-minute travel time.

For more information on Therme Group, please visit:  https://www.thermegroup.com/

About TraffordCity

TraffordCity is the UK’s foremost retail, leisure and commercial destination encompassing the Trafford Centre and its surrounding 3.5 million square feet of retail, leisure and office space.

With 300 of the most premium brands in retail and leisure as well as being home to several award-winning attractions including Trafford Golf Centre, Dino Falls Adventure Golf, Chill Factore, Play Factore, and iFLY; TraffordCity’s exceptional mix of sport, culture and event offerings, attracts over 44 million visits a year.

Peel L&P have invested £1.6 billion into TraffordCity to date and there is a further £2.6 billion of investment in the development pipeline over the next 20 years.  Work has started on a new residential quarter at Trafford Waters, and plans are in place for health and wellness resort Therme, a new Padel Club facility, an extension of Fives Soccer and other exciting developments which will position TraffordCity as a world class destination.

TraffordCity is conveniently located five miles west of Manchester city centre, adjacent to the M60 orbital motorway and has excellent connectivity via road, tram, rail and air. Excellent public transport links gives accessibility to business, retail, leisure and employment opportunities within TraffordCity.

For the latest updates from TraffordCity visit the website www.traffordcity.co.uk or follow on social: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

About Peel L&P - Realising Possibility

Operating across the UK for over 50 years, the family-run Peel Group and its regeneration arm Peel L&P have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to re-imagine some of the country’s historic assets. They can be trusted to deliver, with a track record of transformative and exciting developments.

Peel L&P created MediaCityUK to bring the BBC to the North, started a trailblazing project to give homeless people their own front door at Manchester’s Embassy Village, and are helping to decarbonise industry and generate low carbon energy at Protos and through its Peel NRE business.

Working with local partners, its nationwide Peel Waters schemes like Liverpool Waters and Wirral Waters are regenerating waterfront destinations into mixed-use sustainable communities and its innovative homebuilder Northstone is building new energy-efficient family homes in suburban areas.

As part of The Peel Group, Peel L&P strives to make a positive impact on people’s lives and is proud of its legacy. Promoting sustainable development is at the heart of what they do, and they take their responsibilities to the environment seriously. Their people are passionate about the communities they work in, and they value their close partnerships with local groups and charities.

By building homes and creating opportunities, including highly skilled jobs of the future, protecting and improving its open spaces, addressing the climate emergency and its energy needs, Peel L&P will continue to realise possibility and invest in communities for years to come.

More about Peel L&P’s charitable work here.

More information at www.peellandp.co.uk or follow us on Twitter @PeelLandP