2025 has been an incredible year for TraffordCity, marked by exciting developments, major milestones, UK firsts and a continued commitment to creating vibrant destinations for work, leisure, and living.

Here’s a look back at some of the standout achievements that shaped this year.

The Game Changer!
Therme Manchester Build Begins

After years of Peel Waters working in close partnership with Therme Group to create the largest inland wellness resort ever built in the UK, 2025 was the year funding was secured, and construction works commenced.

In a ceremony named “Beyond Groundbreaking” local leaders, partners and community members came together to celebrate the first steps in creating the £450 million transformational destination in TraffordCity. Guests marked the groundbreaking moment by breaking local Eccles cakes together and waving bright orange sustainable 3D-PLA printed spades as Sir Robert McAlpine’s diggers moved into position as the fireworks exploded and the music blasted.

Therme Manchester is set to create around 2,500 construction jobs (direct) with a peak onsite of 1,200, with a further 650 staff employed to operate the resort.

Once built, Therme Manchester will become the UK’s largest wellbeing resort and one of the most significant building developments for the North in many years, delivering a unique blend of water-based activities, wellness, and sustainable design, setting a new benchmark for health and leisure destinations.

Completion of Therme Manchester is scheduled for the end of 2028.

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TraffordCity Ice Arena Planning Submission

One of the most anticipated announcements was the planning submission for the first Ice Arena in TraffordCity. The purpose-built, 3,000-person capacity facility will feature state-of-the-art ice hockey and skating facilities which will also convert into a multi-use event space suitable for on and off ice entertainment.

The new arena being developed by ICITIES in partnership with Peel Waters and Planet ICE, will generate a pipeline of construction roles during the build phase and more than 50 permanent operational jobs once open, including hospitality, event management, and leisure services.

With the planning decision expected imminently, the contractors will be announced in the new year, with construction expected to begin in spring 2026, with an estimated build time of 12–15 months.

Plans submitted for TraffordCity Ice Arena – Peel Waters

The UK’s Biggest Purpose Build Padel Destination Opens in TraffordCity

This year saw the launch of The Padel Club TraffordCity, introducing one of the fastest-growing sports to the region. Demand for the sport was so great, The Padel Club chose to open in two phases this year to meet the growing demand for Padel Courts. The Padel Club TraffordCity now has 11 fully operational and playable courts, (nine of indoor and two outdoor), split across two ‘arenas’ as well as a high-spec club house, bar and outdoor lounging area.

The new venue has already become a hotspot for enthusiasts and beginners alike, with the TraffordCity club consistently ranked as one of the most popular Padel facilities in the region, on the official Playtomic app adding another dynamic layer to TraffordCity’s leisure offering.

The Padel Club TraffordCity Officially Opens as the UK’s Largest Purpose-Built Padel Facility

First Residents of Trafford Waters Become Social Media Sensation

A major milestone for TraffordCity was the completion and opening of the very first homes at Trafford Waters – an 85-bed care home.

Five residents in their 80s living at Trafford Waters Care Home proved that age is no barrier to new experiences, as they stepped onto the Padel court for the very first time. Described as one of the most accessible, social sports that is suitable for all ages and abilities, it was the perfect activity for the Trafford Waters residents to enjoy together.

A video from the day went viral on Instagram, reaching nearly half a million views from around the world.

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A Year of Succes and Expansion across TraffordCity

2025 was also a year of success for many of our established partners and tenants across TraffordCity. David Lloyd Trafford reached record membership numbers following their Spa Retreat expansion. Brand new brands and restaurants opened at The Trafford Centre including JD Sports’ biggest ever store which was officially opened by Usain Bolt. The Chill Factore entered a new bold chapter rebranding as ‘The Snow Centre’ with the ambition to continue inspiring more people to experience the thrill of Snowsport, all year round, without leaving the UK. And the rebranding didn’t stop there, as we also saw the renaming of the former Barton Dock Road Metrolink stop on the Trafford Park line, to “Trafford Palazzo”.

Trafford Palazzo, owned and managed by our sister company Peel Retail and Leisure continued to thrive as major new lettings and exciting announcements were made throughout the year.  With stand-out new lettings and a cumulative increase in visitor footfall of 8.4% year to date, Trafford Palazzo continues to emerge as a popular retail and leisure destination in its own right.  Here’s a brief summary of the major lettings secured in 2025:

P.Louise – The viral beauty brand, P.Louise, announced the opening of its first-ever permanent retail destination ‘P.Louise City’. Spanning 19,000 sqft across two-floors P.Louise City will offer a fully immersive beauty playground – including a P.Louise Pharmacy, P.Louise Supermarket and even a dancefloor.

P.Louise store to open at Trafford Palazzo – Trafford Palazzo

Primark Home

Primark opened its first standalone Home store in Great Britain. Set over two floors and nearly 12,000 sq ft, the store offers a treasure trove of interiors inspiration.

There’s no place like Primark Home! – Trafford Palazzo

Everlast Gyms+

Set to open in early 2026, the 28,000 sqft Everlast Gyms+ at Trafford Palazzo will deliver a next-generation fitness club to complement TraffordCity’s thriving sport, leisure, and wellness offering.

Everlast Gyms+ is opening at Trafford Palazzo – Trafford Palazzo

Trafford Golf Centre

Europe’s premier golf practice facility and home to the UK’s largest golf academy, also announced ambitious expansion plans. With over 23 million golf balls hit annually and up to 2,000 daily visitors, the centre is now taking a bold step forward to meet demand and further enhance its offering.

The works will include adding an additional storey to the facility, bringing its total number of hitting bays up to 82, aiming to reduce waiting times and increase visitor capacity. The existing bays will also be refreshed, and a new bespoke range outfield design will be constructed, to create a fun and engaging target area to suit a golfers practice and entertainment needs.

Exciting times ahead for Trafford Golf Centre as major expansion plans announced – Trafford Golf

Looking Ahead to 2026

We spoke to Kate Holland, our Marketing Director for Peel Waters, Peel Retail Leisure and Trafford Golf Centre Board Director, on the projects and milestones she’s most looking forward to in 2026.

“It’s been an incredible year across TraffordCity and the business and venues success demonstrate the evolution of Peel Waters’ vision to create one of the m most exciting and experiential retail, sporting, leisure and wellness destinations in Europe.  As the first residential care home opened and with Trafford Waters’ first affordable housing development to open in the new year, TraffordCity goes beyond a place for people to explore, shop, eat, play, stay to a place where people can now call home.

We have the most incredible and collective mix of brands and destinations located directly next to one another served by a brilliant network of public transport connections.  We are incredibly proud to be part of the destinations evolution and delivery of significant economic, social, health and environmental to the region and beyond.

Looking ahead to 2026, some of the projects I’m most excited about include the opening of P.Louise at Trafford Palazzo which will be a gamechanger in experiential retail and the opening of Everlast Gyms+ will bring another fantastic wellness focused gym and training facility to TraffordCity. 2026 also is going to be a year of construction milestones for TraffordCity and I’m really looking forward to the completion of Trafford Golf Centre’s expansion, the completion of L&Q’s affordable housing development, X1 starting on site at Trafford Waters and of course seeing the first crane on site as the work continues on the build of Therme Manchester – that’s going to be a huge achievement for everyone!”