Manchester has given the world New Order, The Smiths, Oasis and possibly more chart-topping musical acts than any other city in the world. And now, the next major export (after songs whinging about love and death) could very well be surfing.

Manchester news outlets announced this week a £60m outdoor wave pool planned for a plot of land near the Trafford Centre. A Belfast-based property developer, McKinney Group, asked the local Council for permission to develop the area near Barton Dock Road in Trafford Park. They are awaiting a decision.

The plans call for a full-size Wavegarden Cove surrounded by a fitness zone, skate park, pump track and other “action activities.” Amenities will include a bar, restaurant and equipment centre.

If approved it will help rebrand the area as a health destination and sit adjacent to a massive £250m Therme Manchester resort planned at a nearby location. That site will have warm water lagoons, slides, botanical gardens and spa facilities.

With the recent announcement of an Endless Surf wave pool in Sefton, should all go according to plan this will become the ninth wave pool in the UK, making England the most wave pool friendly nation on earth.

“As well as the clear financial benefits the proposals will deliver, Modern Surf Manchester will also provide significant health and well-being benefits locally,” said Billy McKinney, Managing Director at McKinney Group. “It is well-known that water-based sports can have a huge positive impact on physical and mental wellbeing, so I am looking forward to opening more opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to get involved in surfing.”

Modern Surf Manchester is expected to open by 2023 if permission is granted and create roughly 100 full-time jobs.

The jury is out on whether the Manchester project will come through and we won’t know it’s all good-to-go until they break ground on the site. Most wave pool projects, much like the 1980s hit by Manchester musician Limahl are, uh, Never-Ending Stories in and of themselves (sorry, we couldn’t resist.)

Modern Surf Manchester

Stretford, Manchester, UK

• The Lowdown: £60m outdoor wave pool planned for a plot of land near the Trafford Centre. A Belfast-based property developer, McKinney Group, is seeking permission from the local Council to develop the area near Barton Dock Road in Trafford Park. The plans call for a full-size Wavegarden Cove surrounded by a fitness zone, skate park, pump track and other “action activities.” Amenities will include a bar, restaurant and equipment centre.
• WavePool Construction Progress: Planning stages
• Accessibility: Not yet built or even open to the public.
• Type of wave(s): The cove produces everything from gentle knee-high rollers to head-high slabs via their top-secret machinery.
• Wave Generating Technology: Wavegarden Cove Technology
• Wave’s Technical Information: Wave height: 2-7 ft, Both left and right breaks, length of wave: 30-100 yards/meters depending on the size of the Cove pool
• Hours of operation/Seasonal Hours: Unavailable, but we’ll keep you posted
• Price Breakdown: None yet
• Waves per hour: 11-900 waves per hour