You can have your say on the huge new development.
Dubbed an ‘urban oasis’, and spanning a whopping 28-acres opposite the Trafford Centre and Trafford Palazzo, Therme Manchester is being built by global developer and operator, Therme Group.
Ahead of the plans being formally submitted to Trafford Council in just a few weeks time, developers are now asking the public to view and comment on a new design for the "game-changing" Therme Manchester, reports The Manc.
In case you didn't know, Therme Manchester will be the UK's first city-based wellness resort.
Also being built alongside Manchester-based developers Peel L&P, and is gearing up to be "a beacon for the North West" - with a wide range of attractions for all ages and budgets forming part of the plans.
You can now have your say on plans for Manchester's 'game-changing' new £250m wellness resort / Credit: Therme Manchester
Based just an hour from Leeds, the first all-season urban beach, and an indoor waterpark with dozens of water slides, thermal pools, spas, and saunas and steam rooms, are just some of the attractions in the works, as well as an education centre, and so much more.
There’ll be a strong focus on health, wellbeing, and sustainability once the resort opens.
Therme Manchester will be the UK's first city-based development of its kind / Credit: Therme Manchester
Since the concept of the development was first unveiled to the public back in 2020, developers say they have already implement a series of design improvements in a bid to provide "better access for the large number of expected visitors".
According to developers, the project has moved from being principally a single building with an undulating roof line, to a more "pavilion-style concept" with separate connected structures that are "immersed and enveloped" in a natural landscape.
Some of these design improvements include creating three separate entrances for people arriving from all directions, a new landscaped green boulevard for those travelling by car, as well as new on-site parking places that will be "concealed in nature", and better access for cyclists and those arriving on foot via public transport.
There’ll be a strong focus on health, wellbeing, and sustainability once the resort opens / Credit: Therme Manchester
"Therme Manchester will have a transformative impact on the city and individuals," Stelian Iacob - Senior Vice President and CEO of Therme Group UK - said as the public consultation opens.
"The Therme experience is designed around physical and mental wellbeing.
"Human contact with water, steam, fresh air and nature is optimised in an environment that sets itself apart from the pressures of daily metropolitan life [and] we are confident that Therme Manchester will be a catalyst for a wave of local urban development that, over time, will bring new homes and jobs and will create opportunities for the wider area.
"As such, we hope that our project will act as an urban anchor and a destination that gives a fresh identity to this area of the city."
M&S has launched a massive recruitment drive across Yorkshire.
With the festive season fast approaching, and most British stores having already unveiled their Christmas ranges for 2026, one of the country’s largest brands has launched a massive UK-wide seasonal recruitment drives to gear up for what is always one of the busiest times of the year for the retail industry.
M&S has announced it will recruit for plenty of new colleagues across the UK.
As mentioned Christmas is one of the busiest moments of the year for M&S, and seasonal colleagues play a ‘vital’ part in delivering that.
Image: Supplied
New recruits will be tasked with helping M&S deliver a ‘brilliant’ service for customers.
Stores with vacancies span the whole of Leeds - including city centre, Moortown, Crown Point, White Rose Shopping Centre and Pudsey.
M&S says the roles are ‘fast-moving and hands-on’, with colleagues required to work together to make sure customers still get the very best of M&S, even at its busiest.
The roles will pay £13.41 per hour, with successful applicants receiving the training, tools and support needed to get up to speed quickly.
“We can’t wait to welcome over 300 new colleagues to our store teams here in Greater Manchester,” commented Zeba Khan, who is the Regional Manager at M&S.
“As we get ready for our busiest time of year, it’s a great opportunity to join us and help bring a magical M&S Christmas to our customers.
“We have a range of opportunities available, whether joining our city centre flagship or our fresh market-style foodhalls. We’re looking for colleagues who are passionate about delivering great customer service and being part of a team.”
Fancy it then? Applications are now open, and you can find out more and apply on the M&S Christmas careers page here.
The UK Government has announced £100 fines for ‘antisocial behaviour’ on public transport
Emily Sergeant
The Government has today announced plans to tackle antisocial behaviour on public transport.
In a bid to crackdown on loud music, littering, vaping, and other threatening behaviour on buses and trains, guidance was issued by the Government today for local authorities to prosecute and even issue fines of up to £100.
For many, playing audio out loud on public transport – also known as ‘loudcasting’ – has become one of modern life’s most irritating parts of the daily commute, but now, a new national campaign is aiming to encourage rail passengers, in particular, to ‘share the carriage, not the noise’ to improve the journey experience for all.
This will include reminders of the rules in place on the rail network and, if a passenger refuses to stop when asked by authorised rail staff, they can be removed from the train at the next station or face fines up to £1,000.
On buses, however, the powers for authorities were already made possible by the Bus Services Act 2025, meaning all local transport authorities in England are able to set and enforce their own rules.
Authorised officers – including transport safety officers and the police – will be responsible for enforcement, rather than bus drivers themselves, and they will be tasked with a three-step approach to deal with incidents. They will need to:
Engage with the person
Explain the rules and their impact on other passengers
Take enforcement action if they refuse to comply
“We’ve all been on the train when someone starts blasting music or videos from their phone,” commented Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
“It gets on your nerves and can quickly spoil the journey, so we’re launching a nationwide campaign reminding passengers to use headphones on trains. On top of that, we’re giving local leaders new powers to tackle loud music, vaping and littering on buses.
“It’s a simple thing, but one that will make journeys that little bit better for all of us.”
Ben Plowden, Chief Executive at the Campaign for Better Transport, added: “Antisocial behaviour is not just irritating, it can be a real deterrent to people using public transport – especially people with different accessibility requirements.
“If these new powers are properly and visibly enforced, they should help everyone feel safe and comfortable on public transport and enjoy the ride.”
The Hoot -
13th June 2023 
