Main contractor appointed in scheme to transform Wigan’s disused Civic Centre

Work to overhaul Wigan’s disused Civic Centre is one step closer, with the appointment of a main contractor.

Manchester-based developer, Capital&Centric, in partnership with Wigan Council, aims to create standout workspaces across Greater Manchester’s towns with the quality and design usually reserved for the city centre.

Workspace Design and Build has now been appointed as the contractor tasked with transforming the 1970s building on Millgate into sustainable, high quality workspaces.

The team wants the new space, dubbed ‘Civic’, to be a hub for innovation and

collaboration. The scheme will be packed with facilities from a gym and mini cinema, to chill-out lounges and a relaxing roof terrace. Exposed concrete inside will be framed by lush new plants and trees. There will also be spaces for the public to enjoy, including a new café bar complete with a spill-out terrace, as well as outdoor seating spots along Millgate.

Civic is also set to feature a raft of sustainability features such as smart, high-efficiency lighting to reduce energy consumption, electric vehicle charging points and cycle storage to encourage active travel and improve air quality in Wigan’s centre.

The introduction of the gardens and planting will also see biodiversity at the site increased by more than 500%.

Planning approval for the building’s reboot was granted earlier this year.

The first Civic workspaces are expected to be available as early as summer 2025.

John Moffat, joint managing director at Capital&Centric, said: “Civic is already creating a buzz and will be the coolest office development the town has seen. Wigan Council has done a brilliant job landscaping Millgate and our refurbishment of Civic completes what is starting to feel like a new quarter for the town.

“It’s only a few metres from the busy Standishgate, so businesses looking to locate here are getting all of the amenities that the town has to offer right on their doorstep. The building is going to be a huge part of Wigan’s regeneration story”

Cllr David Molyneux, leader of Wigan Council, said: “It’s fantastic to see things moving on this exciting project with the appointment of the building contractor. I’m certainly pleased to see such an iconic and important building in Wigan’s history get a new lease of life and look forward to next summer when the first workspace opens.”