Therme Manchester – the £250m indoor ‘next generation’ waterpark, thermal bathing and wellbeing spa set to open in 2025 – will include the world’s first ‘living waterslides’.

The waterslides are part of the resort’s focus on biophilic design and will feature 3D-printed structures housing thousands of biodiverse plants.

Thanks to their design, the slides will be made to look like tree trunks, with plants growing out of them.

Updated plans for Therme Manchester revealed by the group in April 2022 involve a ‘greater integration of biophilic design elements, including double-curved roofs, which reduce the amount of steel required, increasing the sustainability of the development.’

The new design also features a green ‘vertical forest’ multi-storey car park, and a number of new guest attractions including an all-season urban beach and the living waterslides. Innovative ‘welltech’ experiences will be offered, including a snow room, multi-sensory showers and oxygen rooms, and an education centre will host events on sustainability, food and nature.

Due to its sustainable approach, the resort will have a major net gain in biodiversity with a 10,000sq m wellbeing garden, a next-generation hydroponic vertical farm, more than 1,500 trees and roof-top beehives, producing honey for use in restaurants and wellbeing treatments.

Speaking to Attractions Management, Richard Land, Therme Group’s UK chief development officer, said: “We’re creating urban oases, where we bring together fun and relaxation to nurture mental and physical health. We’re looking to embed ourselves in communities; to be a catalyst for greener, healthier, more liveable cities and provide wellbeing for all.

“At a basic level, we all connect with water and find it incredibly calming to be in and around.”

Stelian Iacob, senior vice president of Therme Group and CEO of Therme Group UK, said: “The COVID-19 period gave us the opportunity to update the design of Therme Manchester to create an even more sustainable, engaging and accessible experience with profound health and wellbeing benefits for all.

“We will continue to work with the Manchester community as we progress with the design and development”.

Located at TraffordCity in Manchester, Therme Manchester is the UK’s first city-based wellbeing resort.

Therme Group is working in partnership with Peel L&P to deliver the project, at a cost of over £250m (US$328.5m, €299.3m).

Construction of the development is scheduled to begin in 2023, with a build time of around two years.

Therme Group is working on the development of a second UK wellbeing resort for Glasgow, Scotland.