Therme Group, a global developer and operator of state-of-the-art wellbeing destinations, has unveiled updated plans for Therme Manchester, the UK’s first city-based wellbeing resort at TraffordCity in Manchester.
Therme Group is working in partnership with Peel L&P to deliver the project, at a cost of over £250 million and builds upon many exciting elements in the existing planning consent. In addition to a ‘next generation’ waterpark, thermal bathing and a wellbeing spa, these include immersive digital art, an on-site urban farm and botanical gardens. This combination of features highlights Therme’s aim to be far more than just a waterpark and spa, but to create an integrated experience to benefit physical and mental health.
Increasing sustainability
The updated plans adopt the very latest technology to make the development even more sustainable and deliver additional exciting features for visitors. They involve a greater integration of biophilic design elements, including double-curved roofs, which reduce the amount of steel required, increasing the sustainability of the development.
The new design also includes a green ‘vertical forest’ multi-storey car park to be located at Peel L&P’s Trafford Palazzo. This new addition removes the need for under-venue parking and, therefore, reduces the amount of excavation needed, simplifying the build process and lowering environmental impact.
New guest attractions
New guest attractions include an all-season urban beach and the world’s first living waterslides to incorporate a 3D-printed superstructure housing thousands of plants. Innovative ‘welltech’ experiences will be available, such as a snow room, multi-sensory showers and oxygen rooms, and a visitor and education centre will welcome school and community groups for events on sustainability, food and nature.
The resort will have a major net gain in biodiversity with a 10,000 sq m wellbeing garden, a next-generation hydroponic vertical farm, more than 1,500 trees and roof-top beehives, producing honey for use in restaurants and wellbeing treatments.
Therme is aiming to submit a revised planning application in the summer. Construction of the development is scheduled to begin in 2023, with a build time of around two years.
Profound health and wellbeing benefits
Stelian Iacob, Senior Vice President of Therme Group and CEO of Therme Group UK, said: “The Covid period gave us the opportunity to update the design of Therme Manchester to create an even more sustainable, engaging and accessible experience with profound health and wellbeing benefits for all. We will continue to work with the Manchester community as we progress with the design and development”.
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 Manchester will be Therme’s first wellbeing destination in the UK. The second is planned for Glasgow, where Therme last November signed heads of terms for Therme Scotland with Peel L&P, the developer of ‘Glasgow Waters’, on a site adjacent to the Riverside Museum at the intersection of the Kelvin and Clyde rivers. Other UK developments are planned for London and Wales. Therme’s unique city-based wellbeing resort concept has been highly successful in Europe for more than 20 years. The group is rolling out a global development programme, with sites announced in Toronto and Frankfurt and projects in development in the USA, and Asia Pacific.