By Dianne Bourne

Copyright manchestereveningnews

The bosses of the huge Therme Manchester well-being resort have issued a major update about the £400million development. Work is set to begin in earnest at the site, next to the Trafford Centre , after the announcement of the construction manager for the project this week. Bosses have confirmed they have appointed major construction and engineering company Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM) as the Construction Manager for the landmark project at TraffordCity. The vast new resort is set to take shape at the former Event City site, which was demolished two years ago to make way for the development. New photos have been released this week to show the scale of the project ahead – with exciting updates on what visitors can expect when it finally opens. For the best ideas on days out, shopping and parenting issues, get the Manchester Family newsletter here 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. The Manchester development is set to create hundreds of construction and full time jobs, with the aim of attracting MILLIONS of visitors to Trafford every year once it opens. There is expected to be a two-year build for the resort, but no official date has been announced for when it is likely to open. The appointment of SRM follows the announcement of a strategic joint venture between Therme Group and CVC, one of the world’s leading private markets investment firms. The new venture, named Therme Horizon, is valued at over €1 billion. In a statement from the company this week, bosses said: “Therme has been working with SRM through a pre-construction services agreement and has now appointed them as construction manager. “This is another major milestone in bringing Therme’s unique vision of urban-social wellbeing to Greater Manchester. Sir Robert McAlpine, renowned for delivering complex, iconic projects across the UK, will support the management of construction of what is set to become one of the region’s most transformative destinations. SRM were selected as they aligned with Therme values of community and sustainability. “Therme Manchester will combine the largest thermal pool complex in Europe under one roof, indoor and outdoor , botanical gardens, and immersive art,—creating a world-class environment focused on wellbeing. “There will also be more than 25 water slides, the largest sauna area in the UK, multiple steam rooms and a wave pool for children and families.” Professor David Russell, CEO of Therme UK, said: “We are delighted to appoint Sir Robert McAlpine to support the management of construction for Therme Manchester. Their unrivalled expertise in delivering large scale, complex projects, along with a shared commitment to excellence, community and sustainability, makes them the ideal team to bring Therme Manchester to life. “We look forward to working together to deliver a project that will have a lasting positive impact on Greater Manchester and beyond.” Neil Martin, Chief Executive at Sir Robert McAlpine, said: “It’s a privilege to be appointed to help deliver such a visionary and innovative project. Therme Manchester represents a major investment in wellbeing, sustainability, and community infrastructure, and we are excited to play a part in shaping its future.” James Whittaker, Managing Director of Peel Waters said: “We have been on a long partnership journey with Therme Group. “Since our first meeting and experiencing Therme’s world-leading concept, Peel Waters have worked hand in glove with Therme Group to bring this phenomenal experience to TraffordCity, Manchester. “Following on from the preparation of the site and carrying out the demolition works of the former ‘EventCity’, we are now extremely pleased to see the appointment of Sir Robert McAlpine in readiness for delivering this truly transformational, unique wellness resort, which will be a complete gamechanger for health, leisure and the visitor economy in the North. Cllr Tom Ross, Leader of Trafford Council, said: “The Therme project is fantastic news for Trafford, and I am delighted it is being built in our borough. The resort will attract millions of visitors each year to boost our economy and will provide hundreds of construction jobs and full-time jobs. It supports several of our key commitments by helping provide a thriving economy, improving health and wellbeing and regenerating a vacant brownfield site in a sustainable location. “It can also be reached by public transport, on foot, and by bicycle so supports our commitments to active travel and sustainability. ” Set within TraffordCity, Therme Manchester will be accessible by public transport via Greater Manchester’s Bee Network and Metrolink , with a strong emphasis on supporting sustainable travel. Visitors will also be able to reach Therme Manchester by bicycle, with new developments along the Bridgewater Canal creating enhanced cycle paths and walkways that directly connect the site to the surrounding area. A multi-storey car park will also be incorporated into the site’s design. Further updates on construction progress will be announced in the coming months.