GB: Domestic Surf Location Coming to Manchester – Planning Application for “Modern Surf“ to be Submitted

The over 200 hectare-large, city center-like mixed-use complex TraffordCity, which is located west of Manchester’s city center and is operated by Peel L&P, is constantly developing its visitor offerings. Such as is the Therme Group’s new and eleven hectare-large Therme Manchester, which was announced last year and is scheduled to open in 2023 (cf. EAP 5/2020). As  recently announced, the latest added project will be the develoment of a domestic surf location named “Modern Surf“, which is scheduled to open in 2023, too.

The new surf spot will be a wave pool provided by Basque manufacturer Wavegarden, which will attract beginners and advanced surfers at the same time. The planning application will soon be submitted to Trafford Council, and McKinney Group, which is responsible for the 60-million British Pound (approx. 68.7 million Euros) project development, expects the approval by March/April of this year. Billy McKinney, Managing Director at McKinney Group, comments: “We are pleased to be investing into Trafford and adding to the unrivalled leisure offer available at TraffordCity. From the Trafford Centre, to Chill Factore, to the recently approved Therme water leisure complex, Modern Surf will be in perfect company and we look forward to attracting yet more visitors to this thriving area.“ The design plans of the new leisure destination include bars and restaurants as well as other interactive attractions such as a pump track and a fitness zone, a halfpipe and boarding area and exercise areas including bouldering and balancing zones.

James Whittaker, Executive Development Director at Peel L&P, says: “[…] The facility will bring something unique to the already strong leisure offering in TraffordCity and, alongside Therme Manchester, Modern Surf will complement all surrounding businesses whilst bringing immense economic and social benefits to the area creating at least 100 jobs once operational.“

In our theme special “Adventure Sports Parks“, which will be published in our upcoming EAP issue 2/2021, we report in detail on the development of domestic surfing facilities in Europe and worldwide. (eap)