Leisure and culture markets targeted by Wigan Pier development partner
The leisure, culture and entertainment sectors are being targeted by Step Places, the development partner of Wigan Council for the Wigan Pier complex of historic buildings.
The scheme comprises 55,000 sq ft office space, events and commercial spaces for food and beverage outlets, as well as leisure, retail, and community facilities.
There is also great potential for performance, workshop and exhibition spaces delivered by cultural organisations.
Wigan Pier was made famous by author George Orwell, whose 1937 book, The Road to Wigan Pier, is regarded as a classic account of working class Northern life. The original Pier was the humorous local description of a coal loading jetty.
The town is also synonymous with the Northern Soul music scene, with the former Casino nightclub voted the world’s best disco by Rolling Stone magazine in 1978, and renowned as the home of Northern Soul music, which featured on last month’s BBC Proms series.
One of the key buildings is the 18th century Gibson’s Warehouse, rebuilt in 1984 as The Orwell at Wigan Pier, located on the canalside near the former Wigan Terminus Warehouses which were built in 1777 and refurbished in the 1980s.
Step Places director, Harinder Dhaliwal, said: “We have invested significantly in the development of the Wigan Pier scheme, with Piers 2, 3 and 4. We are open to discussion with events operators, micro brewers/distillers, food beverage, hospitality operators and any end users who want to be located in these iconic buildings.
“We are committed to delivering the best possible facility for Wigan and the North West.”
He revealed there have already been approaches from operators in the creative, music and leisure scene.
“Our ambition from the start was to put this area back on the map as one of the premier cultural destinations in the North, and so this is an opportune time to go to the market and see the full range of partnership options.”
After COVID caused delays, work re-started late last year on Pier 2 and 3 – the old Orwell building and education centre – as multi-event space, and work recently started on Pier 4 and 5, which will be used for temporary events.
James Winterbottom, director of strategy and innovation at Wigan Council, said: “We remain committed to delivering the Wigan Pier development, which will see this important and iconic part of our local heritage reimagined for future generations to enjoy.
“It’s positive news that Step Places are moving forward with the project, and we look forward to seeing so much of the hard work happening behind the scenes coming together.”
