By Dianne Bourne

Copyright manchestereveningnews

Work has officially started on the construction of Therme Manchester, the vast £450million wellness and water resort, next to the Trafford Centre – and the anticipated completion date has now been revealed. Scores of civic dignitaries, business leaders and the media were invited to an official “Beyond Groundbreaking” event held at the site on Friday morning to toast the start of construction. Therme Manchester will become the UK’s largest wellbeing resort and is hailed as one of the most significant building developments for the North in many years. Enabling groundworks were completed late last year, while the construction phase will begin at the end of this month. For the best ideas on days out, shopping and parenting issues, get the Manchester Family newsletter here And today, bosses have confirmed that completion of the project is scheduled for the end of 2028 – although an official opening date will be announced nearer the time. The event at TraffordCity brought together local leaders, partners and community members to “celebrate the first steps in creating the destination”, including a walk around of the vast site, pictured today. It comes fresh from the announcement that construction company Sir Robert McAlpine will be the builders on the project. Bosses have announced that Therme Manchester is set to create around 2,500 construction jobs with a peak onsite of 1,200. It will also employ 650 staff to operate the resort and they say will build long-term partnerships with local businesses, charities and community groups. They say it will combine cutting-edge architecture and technology with nature, water and wellbeing to create a year-round destination that supports health, happiness and social connection. The resort will feature state-of-the-art swimming and thermal bathing areas, spa and fitness zones, immersive digital art, sustainable gardens and a diverse range of restaurants and cafes – with an emphasis on “improving wellness and quality of life”. Professor David Russell, Therme UK CEO said: “Today marks the official beginning of a once-in-a-generation project for Manchester and the North West. “Therme Manchester will be a place for everyone – a unique destination where wellbeing, sustainability, art and culture come together. “Our vision is to make a lasting positive impact: creating jobs, supporting communities, and helping people live healthier, happier lives for years to come.” James Whittaker, Managing Director of Peel Waters said: “We’re thrilled to have reached this pivotal moment as work begins on site at Therme Manchester. “It marks the culmination of years of close collaboration between Peel Waters and Therme Group, an extraordinary partnership built on shared values and wanting to deliver the very best for our community. “From our very first meeting, we knew Therme’s vision would be transformational, and together we’ve worked tirelessly to get to this moment and start the build of this world-class wellness destination in TraffordCity. “Therme Manchester will be a true gamechanger not just for TraffordCity, but for Greater Manchester and the North. “It will regenerate a key site, create thousands of jobs, and deliver a landmark experience that promotes health, happiness, and connection. We’re very proud to be part of a project that will completely redefine leisure and wellbeing in the UK and Europe.” Neil Martin, Chief Executive at Sir Robert McAlpine, said: “We are proud to be Construction Manager for Therme Manchester, a project that aligns with our commitment to sustainability, technical excellence and making a meaningful difference to communities. We look forward to delivering this world-class destination that will transform wellbeing and benefit TraffordCity and the wider region for generations to come.” A spokesperson from Trafford Council said: “The Therme project is fantastic news for Trafford, and I am delighted that construction work has started on this one-in-a-lifetime scheme. The resort will attract millions of visitors each year and will provide hundreds of construction jobs and full-time jobs for the borough. “Therme Manchester is a fantastic, visionary development and it supports several of our key commitments – helping provide a thriving economy, improving health and wellbeing and regenerating a vacant brownfield site in a sustainable location.” The site will feature the largest thermal pool complex in Europe, bringing with it indoor and outdoor botanical gardens and immersive art. It will offer more than 25 water slides, suitable for younger and older visitors, as well as a family-friendly wave pool. It will also feature the UK’s largest sauna area and follows on from the original Therme in Bucharest which draws visitors from around the world. Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE