Work to bring the UK’s first city-based wellness resort in Manchester closer to a reality has taken a huge step forward this week.
It has been confirmed that plans to start work have progressed with preparations to clear the current EventCity site in Trafford, as developers Peel L&P submit plans to Trafford Council to demolish the 28,000 sq m former conference and exhibition space on Barton Dock Road to make way for the £250 million flagship Therme Manchester resort.
Dubbed an ‘urban oasis’, the resort – which is opposite the Trafford Centre, and is being built by Therme Group – will feature a whopping 35 water slides, 25 pools, and 30 saunas and stream rooms across the 28-acre site.
It’ll also be home to the UK’s first all-season beach with real lapping waves.
ADVERTISEMENT
Therme Group is known for its state-of-the-art wellbeing destinations, and has seen phenomenal success with similar resorts across Europe over the past 20 years.
Therme Manchester will be the UK’s first city-based wellness resort / Credit: Therme Manchester
Therme Manchester is set to be the first-of-its-kind in the country, and will combine water activities with wellbeing treatments, art, nature and technology to create a “unique experience never before seen in the UK”.
ADVERTISEMENT
The pools at the resort will be both indoors and outdoors, and over 1,500 palm trees will be planted to create a tropical feel.
Made up of several domed glass structures, the tropical environment will also feature wave simulation pools and exotic palm tree relaxation areas, along with warm-water lagoons, botanical gardens, swim-up bars, and therapeutic mineral baths, and, in true Manchester style, there are also plans for rooftop beehives too.
It’s hoped that the honey from the local bees can be used in recipes at the on-site restaurants, as well as in spa treatments.
ADVERTISEMENT
Therme Group says the development will “significantly boost economic growth” in the Greater Manchester region, and will create 1,200 jobs and over £4.5 billion economic impact.
📣 Plans have been submitted by @PeelLandP to demolish the former EventCity to make way for the c.£250m flagship @ThermeGroup#Manchester development.
We can't wait to welcome Therme Manchester, the UK’s first city-based wellbeing resort. 🏝️
Peel L&P’s Executive Director of Development James Whittaker says it’s an “attraction like no other”.
He said: “It’s incredibly exciting to be making preparations to bring the UK’s first resort of this kind to TraffordCity for people of all ages to enjoy.
“It will attract visitors and investment from across the globe to TraffordCity and the wider city region and we’re proud to be the host venue for such an exceptional development with a strong focus on sustainability, health and wellbeing.”
ADVERTISEMENT
The 28-acre site will feature 35 water slides, 25 pools, and 30 saunas and stream rooms / Credit: Therme Group
Richard Land – Chief Development Officer at Therme Group UK – added: “We are delighted to have reached this critical stage with Peel L&P, which marks the beginning of on-site works for Therme Manchester.
“An iconic project for the city as well as for the entire UK, this milestone confirms the arrival of Therme in the North.”
Construction is set to begin in 2023, with a build time of approximately two years.
Featured Image – Therme Group
News
Salford Red Devils granted another adjournment over unpaid debts
Danny Jones
Salford Red Devils have been given one more adjournment and yet another stay of execution, being given another two weeks to find the money to cover their unpaid debts.
The local rugby league side, which has been wrapped in all manner of struggles both on and off-pitch over the past year or so, reportedly needs to pay around £700,000 to HMRC alone and still owes roughly £5 million in total to various creditors.
To no surprise, regular matchgoers, neutrals and even rivals alike have expressed their continued disappointment with the club, mainly at the lack of transparency and clarity from the organisation throughout this long, drawn-out process.
This is coming from a wire fan but no club deserves to be left in the dark even longer than they already have done it’s nothing but a disgrace to the sport of rugby those owners and the court should be ashamed of themselves.
Updating fans on social media, this is all the information they have communicated at this time: “Salford Red Devils can confirm that HMRC have granted the club a two-week adjournment, providing additional time in which to secure the necessary funds.
“We would like to reassure supporters that we are working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure a positive resolution. Further updates will be shared as soon as possible.”
It’s worth noting that the current owners have reiterated that they inheited around £3m in existing debt before they took over the club, but assurances over their own investments have still come to nothing; meanwhile, with many still waiting on wages, players and staff alike have now left.
Having been propped up by loan players and emergency loans, the team is now closer to a skeleton crew than it is an outfit capable of competing in the premier division.
Either way, the outrage remains and is only growing stronger. One user wrote on X: “A good approach by them if they was legit would be to engage and bring in The 1873 to bridge the communication black hole (they created).
“The problem with that is if they did it would expose them for what they are… Extortionists using the club as a vehicle.”
More alarm bells were raised recently when assistant coach and Krisnan Inu – who was also director of the company set up to take over the business – withdrew himself from a key position behind the scenes.
Speaking of The 1873, the outspoken supporters trust took no time at all in issuing a response of their own, adding: “The judge presiding over today’s case has adjourned by 14 days. This adjournment has dragged the uncertainty on even longer.
“Every delay makes planning for 2026 harder and keeps the club stuck in limbo when it desperately needs clarity and direction.
“The fans, the players and the future all deserve better — The 1873.”
You can see the rest of their statement in full down below, but for now, what do you make of this seemingly neverending saga, Salfordians?
‘Christmas chaos’ on the cards as Manchester tram drivers vote on staging strike action next month
Emily Sergeant
There could be major disruption to festive travel in Greater Manchester next month, as hundreds of tram drivers are currently voting on whether to strike.
Almost 320 tram drivers are being balloted over working conditions and fears around fatigue.
The drivers – who are members of the union, Unite – all work for KeolisAmey Metrolink Limited at the Warwick Road South and Queens Road depots in Manchester – and they operate trams on all routes in Greater Manchester.
As it stands, the drivers’ shift patterns currently mean they have to work 450 hours over a 12-week period, which results in some having to work 50 hours on, followed by just two days off, then back into another 50-hour work pattern.
Drivers also have fewer rest days compared to all other operational departments, and this is said to be causing safety concerns around fatigue.
‘Christmas chaos’ is on the cards as Manchester tram drivers are currently voting on staging strike action next month / Credit: TfGM
Drivers say they concerned about operating heavy vehicles while exhausted and unable to have proper breaks, but after raising the issue with management, Unite has been told there is ‘no funding available’ to support any ‘meaningful’ improvements to working patterns.
Instead, management has asked drivers to start work earlier – which Unite says is only ‘adding insult to injury’.
The ballot is set to close on 11 November, and if drivers vote in favour of industrial action, strikes could then begin in late November, causing widespread cancellations and delays throughout the region during the busy festive shopping period – particularly coinciding with Manchester’s world-famous Christmas Markets, known for attracting millions of visitors to the city each year.
“Any strike action will cause a great deal of disruption but it is entirely the fault of Metrolink, which is not taking the issue of driver fatigue seriously,” commented Unite Regional Officer, Colin Hayden.
Emily Sergeant -
6th September 2022 
