Thanks to support from our Planning, Development & Regeneration team, McKinney Group has received the green light for its planning application to bring Modern Surf, the region’s first inland surfing facility, to Trafford. The proposals will transform land off Barton Dock Road into an interactive surfing lagoon that will be easily accessible for thrill-seekers and families alike. 

The brownfield site has been vacant for several years and McKinney Group plans aim to regenerate it by investing £60million into the site to create a modern, exciting leisure-facility in the heart of TraffordCity.

The application was approved by Trafford Council on 20 September 2021. 

McKinney Group has been supported by LSH, Hydrock and BECG during the planning process.

Paul Shuker, Director at Lambert Smith Hampton, who was heavily involved in the planning application, commented:

"The planning permission for Modern Surf has been delivered through a genuine collective effort by the client and design team and public agencies including Trafford Council. This will be a fantastic sport and recreational asset for the north west community.  Now the fun and challenges start to build this for early 2024."

“This decision is a crucial milestone for us and I’m absolutely delighted that we now have planning approval.  Since we announced our ambitions to deliver a world class inland surfing centre in Trafford we have been inundated with support and I’m grateful to everybody who has taken the time to back the project.

Modern Surf will complement the already excellent leisure based activities in TraffordCity and help to inspire the next generation of surfers and athletes. We hope to create 100 FTE jobs when operational as well as supporting many more during the construction phase."