Retailer's threat to block access to £250m Therme resort after planning green light

The huge £250m wellness and water resort Therme Manchester has been given the green light despite threats from a major retailer that it would block users’ access to the main site from a car park.

Outdoor clothing firm Regatta employs 400 people at its site next to the £250m site formerly occupied by EventsCity near the Trafford Centre.

New designs for the scheme were approved by Trafford’s planning and development management committee last night.

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The vast well-being resort is aiming to offer a 'fun and relaxing day out' and will feature large family and adults-only zones with swimming pools, slides, warm water lagoons and multi-sensory saunas.

However, Mark Edwards, of highways consultancy Mode Transport Planning, addressed the committee meeting expressing the outdoor retailer’s ‘significant concerns’.

They are worried about proposed connections over Mercury Way, the coach drop-off/pick-up facility, the multi-storey car park and logistics hub, which he said would have ‘a detrimental impact on Regatta’s access and operations’.

Mr Edwards said traffic surveys submitted by the applicant did not take into how the development would affect road safety.

He went on: “There are also key aspects of the access strategy without land in the ownership of Regetta, most notably pedestrian and for emergencies over Regatta land for which no rights of access are in place nor would they be granted.”

Mr Edwards claimed because of this the proposed development fails to comply with the National Planning Policy Framework.

He added: “The proposed development cannot be delivered without the use of land owned by Regatta, which has no intention of