A deal has been announced for an exciting new development in Greater Manchester as one of the UK’s biggest ice rinks is coming to Trafford.
‘Regeneration specialists’ Peel Waters, the same people behind the highly-anticipated Therme, have agreed terms with property investment company ICITIES to develop a brand-new ice arena in the ever-growing TraffordCity business and leisure district.
Located just next to the Trafford Centre and directly opposite the likes of the Chill Factore and iFLY Indoor Skydiving, the project is set to be built on the same plot of land which once hosued the former Soccer Dome site which was finally cleared last year in preparation for a new arrival.
With ICITIES also securing a major pre-let agreement with Planet Ice to bring their award-winning ice-leisure offer to the UK’s preeminent retail and leisure destination, we can now confirm that new addition to be a brand new ice rink which will be their biggest venue to date.
Planet Ice Altrincham.You can see the Chill Factore and the plot for the new Trafford ice rink in the background.Credit: Supplied
Planet Ice currently have 14 other locations up and down the UK, including just down the road in Altrincham — an ice skating rink and the home stadium of the Manchester Storm ice hockey team — but the venue in TraffordCity will be one of the most state-of-the-art, purpose-built facilities in the country.
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Promising not only a multi-use event space that can be converted for various different occasions but onsite food and drink offerings, including grab and go options, a stylish family restaurant and a high-end sports bar, this place is going to be a full on leisure unit that perfectly aligns with the surrounding area.
More details and images of the proposed venue will be released closer to the planning submission processes full approval but it’s safe to say we’re already getting very excited. The build itself is estimated to take anywhere between 12 and 15 months once ground is broken.
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With the award-winning Planet Ice brand already on board too, you can be assured that when this thing does arrive you’ll be guaranteed quality and plenty of scope for the future — we can already see the Storm swapping the Shelter for the Trafford for the odd game.
Peel Waters’ Executive Director, James Whittaker, said of the plans:“We’re extremely pleased to have secured another brilliant attraction to TraffordCity. Planet Ice will be a huge success in TraffordCity and together with the existing and proposed diverse mix of offerings, we believe TraffordCity will be the UK’s best retail and leisure destination.
“Alongside boosting the local and visitor economy and attracting investment into the area, we are committed to increasing jobs and opportunities for our local community. Through our long-term vision for TraffordCity, Peel has helped create 17,500 jobs within the destination to date with plans to increase this to 33,000 over the next 20 years.”
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As for Planet Ice, their COO Heath Rhodes said of the new rink: “We are delighted to announce our commitment to lease a new venue at TraffordCity… The venue will be very complementary to our existing facilities in the northwest, in particular Altrincham, where we are often at capacity.
“We plan to provide a large seating capacity at the new venue for on and off-ice entertainment. Furthermore, we plan to invest in our Altrincham site, so having this new facility close by will allow our customers full access to the ice during any works we do at Oakfield Road.”
TraffordCity just keeps getting bigger and better and this certainly isn’t the only new development we’re keeping a very keen eye on.
Featured Images — Ross Gibbs (via Planet Ice Altrincham)
Trafford
Manchester United announce plans for first permanent fan zone at Old Trafford
Danny Jones
Manchester United have revealed the first glimpse at a brand-new fan zone at Old Trafford – the first permanent one of its kind at the ground.
Dubbed ‘The Paddock’ in a nod to the club’s history, the official Man United supporter park is due to open later this year.
Set to be fully unveiled just metres from the Stretford End, the aim is to make it “the closest place to the stadium to enjoy great local food, drink, and lively entertainment.”
The new addition comes after recent consultations with regular season ticket holders who want a dedicated and club-sanctioned space to enjoy themselves before, during and after fixtures.
As you can see from the brief look we’ve now gotten at the fan park, which will be able to hold approximately 1,300 Reds, The Paddock will revolve around food and drink – including some self-service bars – as well as space for live music and other entertainment.
We know the above image is only a little artist’s mock-up, but you can picture local grassroots musicians who support the team being given the opportunity to play the stage, etc.
Rick McGagh, Director of Fan Engagement at United, said: “We’re delighted that in partnership with Levy, we have implemented a wide range of changes to enhance matchdays, bringing greater choice and better service for supporters across the stadium – something fans have told us they want.”
An official statement goes on to read that “the proposed fan zone is the latest example of our continued investment in the atmosphere, fan experience and facilities at Old Trafford, while progressing plans for a new world-class stadium.”
Speaking of which, we recently got more details on where exactly ‘New Trafford’ (not a confirmed title, just FYI) will sit in relation to the existing Theatre of Dreams.
Wharfside will look VERY different in the years to come.
Obviously, all of this news comes as somewhat temporary by default given that we now know the vision of Man United’s new stadium is finally starting to move forward.
However, it is nevertheless good news for matchgoers looking for places to spend extended periods near the venue when going to a game.
At present, this is all still subject to full planning permission, but with former Old Trafford Regeneration Taskforce Members and Greater Manchester Mayor turned Prime Minister Andy Burnham now at the helm, you’d expect something like this to pass through smoothly and quickly.
With an autumn opening date currently set for the opening of The Paddock, it will be interesting to see how well-attended it is given some of the recent sentiments and frustrations surrounding many of the most loyal and dedicated Man United fans.
In case you missed it, even a six-year-old kid and former mascot has seen his ticket restricted due to the attempted crackdown on touts. 😬
Featured Images — Publicity picture (via Manchester United FC)/The Manc Group
Trafford
Work on Greater Manchester’s very own ‘Tebay-style’ motorway service station is finally underway
Danny Jones
You heard us right: the time has come for Greater Manchester to level up its service station game, as work on the long-talked-about Tebay-style venue over in Trafford has finally begun.
Those motorway trips are about to get even better.
We first heard about the vision to provide a brand-new Tatton Services back in March 2022, with the Westmorland Family – known not only for Tebay but the similarly popular Gloucester and Cairns Lodge equivalents – promising to deliver a new top-quality stop-off point in the region.
It’s one that people across the North West have been keeping a keen eye on ever since, and now the dial is finally moving on the major project. You can see more detailed images here:
With the Westmorlands and the official Tatton Estate agreeing a partnership that weighs heavily in the former’s favour, the new services will be located around the M56 near the Bowdon Roundabout in Altrincham.
Bordering the electoral ward of Trafford and Cheshire, it is set to be located between junctions seven and eight of the M6 motorway near neighbouring Millington and Rostherne.
It’s estimated to cost more than £65 million and will be one of the most expensive developments of its kind the country has ever seen, with only the pending Chalfont St Peter station by Extra Motorway Services Group set to be more expensive (approximately £90m).
As per Forecourt Trader, the blueprints include a dedicated 100-room hotel, one of their trademark farm shops that those travelling rave about so much, a petrol station, as well as 40 charging bays for electric vehicles. Service station facilities have come a long way since 1972, when Tebay first opened.
However, while plans are at long last getting underway, it will be arriving much later than expected, with the initial opening date slated for some time later this year; instead, it is now they are now aiming for spring 2028, meaning you’ll just have to make do with the OG for now.
We promise this was purely a coincidence on our way back from Kendal Calling 2026, by the way…
Speaking on behalf of family, the Tatton Services Proposal team, and members of the estate, Westmorland chair Sarah Dunning said in a recent statement on the update: “We’re very excited to bring our proper food offer and ethos to Cheshire.
“From day one, this is about creating something rooted in the local landscape and community. We have committed to working with at least 70 producers within 30 miles of the site – and we hope that number will grow as relationships flourish.
“We’re also creating over 400 skilled jobs for local people, alongside apprenticeships and training programmes designed to build meaningful, long-term careers in the food industry. Our ambition is not only to serve travellers but to create opportunities and lasting value for the communities around us.”
What do you make of the proposed plans for the ‘next Tebay‘?
Danny Jones -
11th January 2024 
