Plans to start work on the UK’s first city-based wellbeing resort, Therme Manchester, at TraffordCity have progressed this week with preparations to clear the current site.

Regeneration business Peel L&P has submitted plans to Trafford Council to demolish the 28,000sq m former EventCity conference and exhibition space to make way for the £250m (US$287.6m, €299m) flagship Therme Manchester development.

The resort is being built opposite Trafford Palazzo and The Trafford Centre by global developer and wellbeing destination operator Therme Group – an organisation which has run similar resorts across Europe over the past 20 years.

Attractions within the 28-acre resort will include an all-season urban beach, expansive thermal pools, a wellbeing spa, immersive digital art, an onsite urban farm, botanical gardens and a waterpark with the world’s first living waterslides.

A snow room, multi-sensory showers and oxygen rooms will also be on offer, as well as a visitor and education centre for events on sustainability, food and nature.

Therme anticipates the development will significantly boost economic growth in the region, creating 1,200 jobs and over £4.5bn (US$5.2bn, €5.2bn) economic impact.

By combining nature, sustainable technology and culture, Therme hopes to improve visitors’ health and wellbeing and save over 1 million hospital admission days per year.

Biodiversity will be central to Therme Manchester via a 10,000sq m wellbeing garden, hydroponic vertical farm, more than 1,500 trees and roof-top beehives which will produce honey for use in restaurants and wellbeing treatments.

Plans also involve the integration of biophilic design elements, including double-curved roofs, which reduce the amount of steel required, increasing the sustainability of the development.

In addition, the design includes a green ‘vertical forest’ multi-storey car park to remove the need for under-venue parking and reduce the amount of excavation needed thereby simplifying the build process and lowering environmental impact.

Richard Land, chief development officer for Therme Group UK, said: “We’re delighted to have reached this critical stage with Peel L&P, which marks the beginning of on-site works for Therme Manchester.

“An iconic project for the city as well as for the entire UK, this milestone confirms the arrival of Therme in the North. It also solidifies our vision for 90 per cent of the UK to be within easy reach of a Therme destination, with future developments planned for Glasgow, London and other key cities”.

The construction of Therme Manchester is set to begin in 2023, with a build time of approximately two years.

Therme has also outlined plans to expand its global footprint with new sites in Canada and Germany, as well as introducing urban wellbeing centres to five US cities, including New York, Los Angeles and Washington DC.