Therme Group is planning to create a vertical farm at its £250m wellbeing resort next to Manchester’s Trafford Centre.
The wellbeing developer has formed a joint venture with food tech consultancy Russell Partnership Collection to deliver food and nutrition strategies across its resorts globally.
These include the 28-acre Trafford resort, which is expected to open in 2023 after securing planning approval in March this year.
The farm is expected to grow more than 150 tonnes of produce for its restaurants as well as the wider community. It will be powered by solar energy.
Therme said that vertical farm technology uses 95% less water than traditional agriculture, with no pesticides or herbicides.
Other sustainable innovations being discussed include rooftop beehives, artisan bakeries and partnerships with chalk stream fish farms and local producers.
The joint venture is called Therme RPC and will be led by David Russell, its chief executive and chairman of Russell Partnership Collection. His team includes food specialists, operational experts, registered nutritionists and psychologists.
Robert Hanea, chairman and chief executive of Therme Group, said: “The creation of Therme RPC is driven by the opportunity to transform people’s relationship with food, nutrition and health.
“Through this unique partnership we will help to reconnect humans with nature and put sustainable food at the centre of human wellbeing.”
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