News

Work finally begins on Manchester’s huge new £250m waterpark and wellness resort

Therme Manchester is gearing up to be "a beacon for the North West".

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 6th March 2023

Work on the UK’s first city-based waterpark and wellness resort right here in Manchester has finally begun this week.

It’s been a long time coming, especially with plans for the development having been first unveiled all the way back in early March 2020 – but it’s now been confirmed that regeneration business Peel L&P has finished clearing the 28,000 sq m former EventCity conference and exhibition centre at the Trafford City site on Barton Dock Road.

And this means that work to bring the £250 million flagship Therme Manchester development to reality has finally begun.

Dubbed an ‘urban oasis’ and spanning a whopping 28-acres opposite the Trafford Centre and Trafford Palazzo, Therme Manchester – which is being built by global developer and operator, Therme Group – is gearing up to be “a beacon for the North West”.

A wide range of attractions for all ages and budgets form part of the plans.

Work finally begins on Manchester’s huge new £250m waterpark and wellness resort / Credit: Therme Manchester

Greater Manchester’s first all-season urban beach, and an indoor waterpark with dozens of water slides, thermal pools, spas, and saunas and steam rooms are just some of the attractions in the works.

There’s also plans for an education centre at the resort, which is being designed especially for schools and community groups to learn about nature and sustainability.

Access to local cycleways and paths is also set to be improved as part of Therme Group’s commitment to creating active connectivity to Manchester and nearby neighbourhoods to encourage the concept of ‘Wellbeing Cities’.

Therme Manchester is gearing up to be “a beacon for the North West” / Credit: Therme Manchester

“We are delighted to see the demolition works complete,” says Richard Land – Chief Development Officer at Therme Group UK.

“It’s fantastic to see the site cleared and showing its amazing potential to be a global wellbeing destination. It defines a key milestone for us as we continue our journey to bring Therme to Manchester, a perfect location for our first facility in the UK.”

Peel L&P says it’s “proud to help bring such an amazing attraction to the North West” – with Executive Director of Development, James Whittaker, adding: “We know will be enjoyed by so many people across the country whether it’s for a fun family day out, relaxation or educational trips.”

Therme Group is known for its state-of-the-art wellbeing destinations, and has huge success with similar resorts across Europe over the past 20 years.

According to Peel L&P, Therme Manchester’s economic impact is estimated to be worth £4.5 billion to the region, and will include the creation of 1,200 jobs, as well as being forecast to save over one million hospital admission days per year. 

Read more:

There’ll be a strong focus on health, wellbeing, and sustainability once the resort opens.

Featured Image – Therme Manchester

News

Plans to expand Greater Manchester’s tram network progress after £6m funding boost

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant A Metrolink tram in Manchester city centre

Plans for new tram and train connections across Greater Manchester have taken a big step forward after a £6m funding boost.

Last month, Mayor Andy Burnham and local council leaders pledged for 90% of people in Greater Manchester to be within a five-minute walk of a bus or tram that comes at least every 30 minutes by 2030 – and now, plans to deliver this strategy are one step closer to becoming reality thanks to significant investment.

Transport leaders have now confirmed a pipeline of ‘rapid transit’ schemes for the future.

£6 million of funding was signed-off by the Bee Network Committee earlier last week, following plans being discussed by Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA).

The work is all part of a wider plan, known as the Greater Manchester Strategy, to link every borough in Greater Manchester up the Metrolink network – with a long-term plan for major expansion of the Bee Network.

This funding boost comes after it was confirmed in early June that trams would finally be making their way to Stockport after long-time rumours.

Plans to expand Greater Manchester’s tram network have progressed after a £6m funding boost / Credit: TfGM

Some of the major projects this £6m funding will pay for advancing planning towards include finalising strategies for extending the Metrolink to Stockport from East Didsbury this autumn, with construction to begin in 2030, and beginning strategy work on the completion of the Metrolink Airport Line ‘Western Leg’ – which would serve a number of ‘key growth areas’ at the Airport, Wythenshawe Hospital, and Davenport Green.

Another important project the funding will go towards is the preparation of the Strategic Outline Case for expanding Metrolink connections to Salford Crescent and Salford Quays, and out to the north west of the region – including potential options for links to Leigh, Wigan, and Bolton.

Work will also continue on plans for an Oldham-Rochdale-Heywood-Bury tram-train route too – with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) says its leaders are aiming for construction on the scheme to begin in 2028.

Mayor Andy Burnham says the funding with help connect all 10 boroughs to the Metrolink / Credit: TfGM

Even more importantly, early development work on plans for the recently-proposed new underground system can start thanks to the funding boost.

“Every part of our region needs to feel the benefits of Greater Manchester’s growth,” commented Mayor Andy Burnham.

“To make sure that happens, we’ve pledged to connect our people and communities to new opportunities better than ever before.

“We’re planning to connect all 10 boroughs to the ever-popular Metrolink network as part of a long-term, sustained expansion of the Bee Network.

Read more:

“This latest funding means we can develop the case for a pipeline of both tram and tram-train new lines and extensions – and ultimately underground infrastructure in the city centre – to make sure we get a public transport system befitting the global city region we are.”

Featured Image – Janus Boye

News

Manchester City supporters groups call on club and fellow fans to ‘make their voices heard’

Danny Jones Danny Jones Man City fan groups call for voices to be heard statement on season ticket changes

A collection of Manchester City supporters groups has urged both the club and the fans themselves to “make [their] voice heard” this season, following this year’s protests over the new and “drastic” ticketing policy.

Man City fans gathered both before and after the game against Wolves back in April to make their feeling known regarding season ticket changes.

Appealing to manager Pep Guardiola directly, insisting that he needs their energy to get the kind of “alive” crowds he’s also called for in the past, ‘The 1984’ has now been joined by four other supporters trusts in reaffirming their aims for the new campaign.

Sharing a new joint statement on social media, the five fan groups say that “last season saw unprecedented off-pitch unrest among City fans in the post-Maine Road era”, and the only way to avoid further disruption is to listen and heed their warnings.

Writing on behalf of the aforementioned 1894 group, Canal Street Blues, MCFC Fans Foodbank Support, Solid Citizens, Trade Union Blues and nearly 700 official members, as you can see, they penned a lengthy open letter to the club and the City Football Group (CFG).

“Despite recent success on the field,” they say, “two major in-stadium protests took place, with an estimated 16,000+ fans delaying their entry at the Leicester and Wolves games, and thousands more joining silent protests.

“The triggers were rising ticket prices, season ticket availability, poor supporter engagement (including the Club refusing to meet City Matters on ticket prices for months), and away fans in home sections – often linked to third-party resellers like Viagogo, whose new partnership with the Club proved the breaking point.”

They also conceded that the freeze in the cost of a full season ticket and reduced matchday prices were a welcome breath of fresh air and stirred hope for better fan engagement moving forward.

However, as the statement continues, “Unfortunately, the Club has instead introduced sweeping changes to season ticket terms and conditions, hitting some of our most loyal supporters and damaging long-standing fan culture.”

You can see all of the new and almost universally opposed ticket changes listed in full via bullet points above, but standouts include an unprecedented ’10-game personal attendance policy’ – the first of its kind in English football – stricter ticket transfer rules, and even new facial recognition scanners.

Fan reaction online has been as you would expect; most City supporters are in almost overwhelming agreement with the concerns raised in the latest communication, particularly in the minimum attendance and transfer rules, adding: “the latter directly undermines the stated aim of ‘keeping the stadium full.'”

“There are also fears some of these rules won’t apply equally to hospitality season ticket holders, introducing worries of inequality between fans,” the statement continues.

“These changes create unnecessary workload for ticket office staff, introduce barriers for digitally excluded fans, force some into paid memberships, and erode supporter culture.

“All [the] while, City Matters, our elected Fan Advisory Board, has repeatedly faced delays and broken deadlines for meeting minutes, with the most recent minutes now 59 days overdue from the June meeting. No one wants constant conflict with the Club, but when official channels fail, protest becomes the only option. Last season proved that fan action can drive change.”

“We call on all Blues to:

  • Track and record if and how these changes affect you.
  • Make your voice heard – online, via City Matters, and through fan groups.
  • Join fan groups such as 1894, the Disabled Supporters Association, Canal Street Blues, Trade Union Blues, and your local OSC branch to discuss issues with fellow Blues.”

Read more:

Lastly, they have called on the club to rethink their current policies surrounding personal attendance and ticket transfers, “take a ‘fans first’ approach when it comes to all future policies affecting supporters, engaging in meaningful consultation with fan representatives,” and publish fan meetings “on time.”

What do you make of the supporter groups’ statement and, more importantly, how do you feel about recent changes to season tickets and matchday admission, City fans?

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — The Manc Group

More News

City Centre

Manchester’s newest bowling venue Wynwood Lanes is giving away 100 FREE sessions on opening week

Manchester Pride Mardi Gras stage times 2025

Art & Culture

Manchester Mardi Gras lineup and stage times in full – the ultimate guide to Pride 2025’s new event

Manchester Pride Parade 2025 road closures sign

Art & Culture

Full list of road closures set to be in place for Manchester Pride Parade 2025

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches