A new fly-through video shows what TraffordCity will look like over the coming years, including a surfing lagoon and a huge wellness resort.
The area is set to undergo a major upgrade, with £2.6 billion earmarked for investment over the next 20 years.
Projects in the pipeline include the creation of the £250m ThermeManchester Wellbeing Resort, which will feature 35 water slides, 25 pools, 30 saunas and stream rooms, an on-site urban farm and botanical gardens.
Work has already started on the site, with Peel L&P submitting plans to demolish the 28,000 sq metre EventCity conference and exhibition space on Barton Dock Road.
When it’s complete, the Therme site will span 28 acres and create more than 500 permanent jobs.
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Another major development coming to TraffordCity is Modern Surf Manchester, an in-land surfing lagoon set to open by 2025.
Therme at TraffordCity. Credit: Therme Manchester
The £60m attraction will feature technology that will create consistent waves for all abilities, alongside a cafe, restaurant terrace, surf shop, beach bars, bouldering space and fitness zone.
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TraffordCity already attracts some 44 million visits each year, and is hoping to attract another 2.5 million visitors a year over the next five years.
Fives Soccer Centres is also set to launch a next-generation football centre, with world class facilities across eight larger-than-standard pitches.
The future of TraffordCity. Credit: TraffordCity
The five-a-side pitches offer individual player tracking, as well as video replays and highlights.
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The family-friendly attractions at TraffordCity continue with the NERF Action Xperience at Trafford Palazzo, which will take over a 35,000 sq ft space next summer and will include a branch of Archie’s burger and shake restaurant.
Other food and drink openings include high-end Italian restaurant Matterello, and Tim Hortons with its largest drive-thru in the UK.
You can watch a fly-through of the future of TraffordCity here:
Plans include a new development called Trafford Waters, which will create new affordable housing, retail and office opportunities, hotels, schools and a 20-acre public park.
It’s set to take around 20 years to complete in full, creating 5,000 jobs.
This month, plans were submitted for a new care facility to support older people and those living with dementia by Montpelier Estates – it will include facilities like a hair salon, cinema, rooftop garden and community event space.
Work on the first 350 new homes at Trafford Water has been funded by a grant of £4.08m from Homes England’s Housing Infrastructure Fund, match-funded by Peel L&P.
Phase one will include tree-lined footpaths and cycleways and the first acre of public green space at the development.
Trafford Housing Trust has submitted proposals for 83 homes on Trafford Waters that will be affordable homes for shared ownership.
Featured image: Therme Manchester
Trafford
First look at Topshop in Manchester as beloved brand returns to British high streets
Daisy Jackson
Topshop is officially back on British high streets, and if you’re old enough to remember the struggle of contorting yourself into a pair of Joni jeans, you’re going to want to pay attention to this news…
The iconic fashion giant shut its stores back in 2021, leaving a huge hole in shopping centres across the nation.
But now Topshop and Topman are back in stores, with 32 new Topshop retail spaces and seven new Topman locations launching today.
Mancs will now be able to shop cult denim, statement jackets, and trend-driven wardrobe staples (just like the golden days of Topshop) at the Trafford Centre.
It’s all thanks to a new nationwide partnership with John Lewis, which will see a curated edit of around 130 styles available in-store across womenswear, menswear and footwear.
In store, that includes a full range of jeans (including those beloved Joni and Jamie jeans, plus more modern barrel-leg styles), graphic tees, knitwear, bomber jackets, and dresses.
There are Topshop retail spaces inside John Lewis at both the Trafford Centre and in Cheadle, but our closest Topman will be across in Leeds.
John Lewis has also become the exclusive UK physical retailer for Topshop footwear for SS26.
Inside Topshop at the Trafford Centre in ManchesterThe iconic Joni and Jamie jeans are back
Michelle Wilson, managing director of Topshop, said: “Today is about making it easier for customers to access the Topshop and Topman pieces they love.
“From our cult denim to new‐season footwear, you can see it, feel it and take it home the same day. Partnering with John Lewis brings Topshop back to high streets across the UK with the level of service our customers expect.”
Peter Ruis, managing director of John Lewis, added: “Topshop and Topman are brands with enormous cultural relevance, and their return to physical retail is something our customers are genuinely excited about.
“This partnership reflects our focus on bringing iconic names, strong style and compelling experiences into our stores.”
Huge festival of colour celebrating ‘new beginnings’ is coming to Trafford Centre this spring
Emily Sergeant
A huge festival of colour celebrating renewal and new beginnings is coming to the Trafford Centre next month.
You may’ve heard the news that it has rained somewhere in the UK every day since 2026 has begun, with the North West and Greater Manchester in particular coming off quite badly, as you’d expect, but don’t worry because colour is returning to the region this spring, and this year, it’s set to be brighter than ever before.
Known for bringing communities together through music, colour, and wellbeing, RDC Festival’s Elements is back next month, and will be transforming the Trafford Centre into a vibrant global celebration inspired by Holi – the ‘Festival of Colours’.
Holi is traditionally a celebration of renewal, love, and new beginnings, and Elements is designed to bring this spirit to life through immersive colour play, movement, and ‘shared joy.
Festival organisers are inviting visitors from far and wide to step into a world of ‘colour, sound, and connection’.
Taking place on Saturday 14 March, the festival is designed to awaken the senses and create unforgettable moments of togetherness, and you can expect everything from throwing vibrant colours, to dancing beneath global sounds, and plenty more.
There’ll also be an ‘energetic’ programme of live entertainment and DJs playing out tunes and sounds from across the world, and foodies will be able to explore the delicious Tropics Street Food Forest, offering global flavours and refreshing treats all throughout the day.
Beyond the vibrant festival atmosphere, there’ll even be a dedicated RDC Wellbeing Hub featuring music, arts and crafts, and a reflection wall to create a calming space.
A huge festival of colour is coming to the Trafford Centre this spring / Credit: John Thomas (via Unsplash)
And, of course, there’ll also be the famous ‘Colour Run’ at the heart of the event – which is what Holi is best known for.
“We’re delighted to welcome Rain Dance Colour Festival’s Elements,” commented Simon Layton, who is the Centre Director at Trafford Centre. “It’s an event that celebrates colour, culture and togetherness and we’re proud to support vibrant events that enrich our communities and give guests a joyful, shared experience they can return to year after year.”
RDC Festival Elements takes place at the Trafford Centre next month on Saturday 14 March, from 12:30-6:30pm, and early bird tickets are on sale now and include a free colour packet and free RDC ELEMENTS t-shirt for a limited time.
Daisy Jackson -
15th December 2022 
