Sir Robert McAlpine has been confirmed as construction manager for the long-awaited £450m Therme Manchester wellbeing resort at TraffordCity.

The appointment follows the creation of Therme Horizon – a €1bn joint venture between Therme Group and private equity investor CVC – and marks the next big step in finally bringing the resort to site.

McAlpine had been working under a pre-construction services deal and will now manage delivery of the landmark attraction, which has been billed as the UK’s first urban wellbeing resort and the largest thermal pool complex in Europe.

Over several planning iterations the overall design has shifted from a single building with a vast undulating full-glass roof and facade to a series of connected roofed pavilions.

The scheme will boast more than 25 waterslides, the UK’s biggest sauna area, multiple steam rooms, botanical gardens, immersive art installations, and a wave pool for families.

The resort will sit at the heart of TraffordCity and be accessible via the Bee Network, Metrolink and new canal-side walking and cycling routes. A multi-storey car park is also planned.

Professor David Russell, chief executive of Therme UK, said McAlpine’s track record on complex builds and its shared focus on community and sustainability made it the “ideal team” for the job.

Neil Martin, Chief Executive at Sir Robert McAlpine, said: “It’s a privilege to be appointed to help deliver such a visionary and innovative project. Therme Manchester represents a major investment in wellbeing, sustainability, and community infrastructure, and we are excited to play a part in shaping its future.”