Trafford Council has approved plans for a new purpose-built ice arena and multi‑use event space at TraffordCity.
The 3,000-capacity TraffordCity Arena will feature state‑of‑the‑art ice skating and ice hockey facilities, and a flexible event space designed to host a wide range of entertainment and community activities. The development’s anchor tenant will be Planet Ice, becoming one of the brand’s largest venues in the UK.
Located on the former Soccer Dome site, the project is being developed by ICITIES in partnership with Peel Waters, who have cleared the site to enable future leisure developments.
The new arena will offer year-round ice activities, lessons and sessions, alongside premium hospitality experiences with future tenants offering family dining, bars, leisure and VIP areas. The venue will also host concerts, screenings and ‘immersive experiences’.
The approval is the latest in a long line of developments for the TraffordCity area. Work has now commenced on the £450million Therme Manchester wellness resort – a ‘next‑generation health and wellbeing destination’ set to include extensive indoor and outdoor pools, thermal experiences, botanical gardens, water-based family attractions, fitness and wellbeing facilities, and a diverse F&B offer.
Trafford Waters Care Home, the first residential development within the Trafford Waters neighbourhood, has now completed – marking the delivery of the first new homes on the site and establishing a key anchor for the growing mixed-use community.
With planning now secured for the TraffordCity Arena, Peel Waters says it is actively exploring further development opportunities for adjacent plots on the former Soccer Dome site. These could include high-end lifestyle hotels as well as more leisure and sporting experiences.
James Whittaker, Managing Director of Peel Waters, said: “Securing planning approval for the TraffordCity Ice Arena is fantastic news for the area. This is a significant step in delivering our vision for TraffordCity as a destination that offers something for everyone. The new arena will provide world-class ice facilities and enhance our growing portfolio of sport and leisure experiences; attracting new visitors, investment and employment opportunities to the region.”
Nick Payne, Director of ICITIES, commented: “This approval allows us to move forward with creating a truly unique venue. Our design combines professional ice facilities with flexible spaces for non-ice events, ensuring the arena can serve a wide range of uses and audiences. The design includes approximately 20,000 sq. Ft of ancillary space for tenants offering complementary food, beverage and leisure facilities.”
Heath Rhodes, Chief Operations Manager at Planet Ice, added: “As Planet Ice enters its 30th year, we’re delighted to see planning permission granted for this landmark project. Demand for ice facilities in the North West continues to grow, and this arena will help meet that need while delivering first class amenities for visitors. TraffordCity is the perfect location, with excellent transport links and complementary leisure attractions.”
The contractors will be announced in the new year, with construction expected to begin in spring 2026 and an estimated build time of 12–15 months.
- Words:
- Bradley Lengden
- Published on:
- Wed 4 Feb 2026
