Plans for the UK's first all-season beach have been revealed inside the huge Therme Manchester indoor resort and spa coming to TraffordCity. New images of the extraordinary indoor beach, which will include lapping waves on soft sands, have been released today for the first time.
It is part of a series of detailed new additions to the existing plans for the spectacular £250m well-being resort and waterpark that will boast an incredible 20 pools and 35 water slides. It will be built where Event City currently sits next to the Trafford Centre, although the anticipated opening for late 2023 has now been set back to 2025.
New CGI images of how the site will look have been released ahead of Therme's sponsorship of this year's Manchester Marathon, which takes place on Sunday in the city. The "urban beach" element at the resort will be part of Therme's "next generation waterpark" with an array of water slides, thermal bathing and a wellbeing spa.
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New details announced by bosses include immersive digital art features as well as an on-site urban farm and botanical gardens. The vast site will all sit inside glass domes on the TraffordCity site - next to Trafford Palazzo.
Bosses say the combination of features highlights Therme’s aim to be far more than just a waterpark and spa. They are aiming to "create an integrated experience to benefit physical and mental health".
Therme’s updated plans, which are being delivered in partnership with Peel L&P, will use the very latest technology to make the development even more sustainable and deliver additional features for visitors. This includes the world’s first "living waterslides" with a 3D printed superstructure to house thousands of plants, as part of its ‘next generation’ water park area.
As part of its outreach work, Therme has announced that it will also include a visitor and education centre on site. This will be where school and community groups can learn about sustainability, food and nature.
Bosses have renewed their commitment to progress with the project, although building work will now not begin until 2023, pushing back the planned opening to around 2025. When it opens it will become the UK's largest indoor waterpark.
"Our commitment to bring Therme Manchester to the UK is as strong as ever," said Stelian Iacob, senior vice president of Therme Group and CEO of Therme Group UK.
"Expert independent studies have shown the hugely positive economic and social impact that Therme Manchester will have, helping to create jobs, economic prosperity and bringing health and wellbeing to the daily lives of millions of guests.”
James Whittaker, Executive Director of Development at Peel L&P said: “We are proud to be working in partnership with Therme Group to develop this exceptional wellbeing resort in TraffordCity. Therme Manchester will lead the way in health and wellbeing and with the updated plans now including the UK’s first all-season urban beach and the world’s first living waterslides.
"We are excited to continue working with Therme Manchester to deliver this innovative health and wellbeing experience in TraffordCity, the UK’s foremost retail, leisure and commercial destination.”
Therme is aiming to submit its revised plans to Trafford Council in the summer. Construction of the development is scheduled to begin in 2023, with a build time of around two years.
Therme Group is known for its landmark entertainment and wellbeing destinations, including a huge indoor waterpark in Bucharest. There, the park includes water-based activities, fitness programming, attractions, wellbeing therapies, art and culture, botanics, food, and nutrition.
Bosses say "environmental consciousness is at the heart of Therme" by using sustainable design and technology to create affordable and inclusive environments that welcome millions of visitors every year. 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 be the first of their planned UK sites for the "urban oasis", with plans to also take it to Glasgow, London and Wales in the future. 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.
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