Therme UK's £500 Million Therme Manchester Reaches Pool Installation Milestone at TraffordCity

Construction of Therme Manchester, a £500 million wellbeing resort being developed by Therme UK at TraffordCity, is advancing with the start of installation of the first main pool, Peel Waters announced Nov. 6. The 28-acre project is scheduled to open in 2029.

New computer-generated images released with the update show the evolving design of the resort, as cranes are now on site and the layout of its three main areas — Play, Restore and Relax — has been mapped out. TraffordCity is the masterplanned destination of Peel Waters, part of The Peel Group, in Trafford, Greater Manchester.

First Main Pool Installation at Therme Manchester

The installation of the first main pool, in the northern area of the Relax zone, begins the week after the announcement. The work is expected to take approximately eight weeks. During that period, the pool water filtration system will be installed and incorporated into the concrete pool base pour.

The step marks a shift from site preparation and foundations toward the specialist mechanical, water-treatment and leisure systems work that the resort requires. Peel Waters described the pool installation as a major construction milestone for the project.

Scale and Programme of the Therme UK Resort

Therme Manchester is planned as a 680,000-square-foot complex on a 28-acre site. It is being developed by Therme UK in partnership with Peel Waters, with Sir Robert McAlpine appointed to build it. The resort is expected to attract around two million visitors a year.

Planned facilities include 10 pools, 18 water slides, 20 saunas and steam rooms, extensive green spaces and a 53,000-square-foot wellbeing garden. The scheme also includes a new public plaza designed to strengthen links between the resort and the Bridgewater Canal.

The resort is organized around three zones:

• Play: water-based attractions for families and visitors of all ages.
• Restore: thermal bathing and restorative experiences.
• Relax: spaces for relaxation and wellbeing connecting visitors with water, warmth and nature.

The opening date is 2029. An earlier Peel announcement had described a £450 million project targeting completion toward the end of 2028.

Design Changes and Section 73 Planning Application

Following Sir Robert McAlpine's appointment, design updates were made to improve construction efficiency, the visitor experience and connections with public transport, including the Metrolink. The two proposed multi-storey car parks have been removed to open up views across the resort, and parking has been redistributed across the site to provide around 1,400 spaces. Entrance and internal and external space improvements also aim to support efficiency and manage energy use.

A minor Section 73 planning application covering changes including parking arrangements has been submitted recently. The overall scale of the £500 million development is unchanged following a reduction in size made in 2024.

Professor David Russell, CEO of Therme UK, said: "We have taken the opportunity to refine the design, improve how traffic and parking are managed and create a more welcoming environment for everyone arriving at the resort. We are creating an even better experience for visitors while supporting more efficient and sustainable operations."

Location and Market Context at TraffordCity

Therme Manchester is being built on the former EventCity site opposite the Trafford Centre and Barton Square. The development is adjacent to the new Barton Square Metrolink station, which provides direct access to Greater Manchester's light-rail network. With the multi-storey car parks removed, the scheme places greater emphasis on public transport access.

The project is intended to broaden TraffordCity beyond its established retail and events base, adding a large leisure anchor near the Trafford Centre, Barton Square and the Bridgewater Canal. The resort combines paid attractions, wellness, landscaping and hospitality-style amenities in a single destination rather than conventional retail floorspace.

Other recent Peel Waters announcements in the area include the start of construction on the first high-rise development at Trafford Waters and planning approval for a TraffordCity ice arena.

Outlook

The project is proceeding with a higher stated cost and a later opening date than Peel's earlier public projections of £450 million and the end of 2028. Water-treatment systems, pool construction and zone layouts are critical-path elements as the building moves toward fit-out. No sale or financing was announced.

Sources

• Peel Waters, "Therme Manchester takes shape as new construction milestone revealed": https://www.peelwaters.co.uk/news/therme-manchester-takes-shape-as-new-construction-milestone-revealed/