Planning approval for £250m regeneration of iconic 17-acre Wigan mill site
Heaton Group has been granted full planning approval for its £250m regeneration of the iconic Eckersley Mill site in Wigan.
Relaunching as Cotton Works, the vast 17-acre development will transform the historic area into a cutting-edge, mixed-use destination consisting of commercial, residential, food and drink and leisure spaces.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham visited the site to celebrate the milestone achievement of securing full planning permission from the council for what has become the North West’s largest brownfield site under single ownership, marking what he described as a major step towards transforming Wigan’s future.
He said: “This is another fantastic example of how we’re turbocharging growth in Greater Manchester using the brownfield sites already available.
“Securing full planning permission for this significantly large brownfield site is not just about reclaiming land, it’s about unlocking the potential for new homes, jobs, and economic growth that will benefit our communities for generations to come.”
CGI of Cotton Works Mill exterior
The Heaton Group bought the site in 2021 and had plans granted for the restoration of two listed mills, Mill One and Mill Three, last year.
It is set to become a pioneering 10-minute community, offering residents, workers and visitors the ability to meet most of their everyday needs within a 10-minute walk, from public transport, shops and childcare to restaurants, doctors and greenspaces.
Managing Director, John Heaton, said: “It’s not only great news for the team who have worked incredibly hard for three years to get to this stage, but for the whole of Wigan. We’re already employing hundreds of tradespeople as a result of this decision, and those numbers are going to grow with the approval to begin work on future phases of the site and open new venues, offices and leisure spaces.
“We’re so proud of our heritage and we’re honoured to be able to restore these valuable cultural assets and bring them into the 21st century. As a sign of our long term commitment to continued regeneration of the area, we are consolidating our business in Wigan and Heaton Group will relocate to Mill One in summer.”
Work has been progressing at pace on Mill One, the first of the original cotton mills to be fully restored. This £25m first phase incorporates a new glass and steel roof extension visible from miles around.
This first phase will be home to two floors of Grade A commercial office space with tenants already moving in over the next few months.
In addition, there will be a market leading food hall featuring six independent kitchens, an all-day café, two bars, and a stage set to host a vibrant schedule of live music and entertainment.
The new rooftop extension will house Wigan’s premier co-working space alongside a rooftop bar – the first of its kind in the area.
In front of the mill, a vast outdoor plaza will offer landscaped green spaces for relaxation, sculptures, and a ‘town square’ designed for artisan markets, outdoor cinema screenings, and concerts.
The upper three floors of the mill will be home to Grade A office spaces, including Heaton Group’s own headquarters. With only one floor remaining available to let, following exceptional uptake from prominent businesses in the area, Cotton Works aims to be instrumental in attracting and retaining talent within Wigan.
John Heaton added: “Wigan is exceptionally well connected to the rest of Greater Manchester and beyond, and with ground-breaking redevelopment works under way at Cotton Works and in the town centre, employers are really starting to see its potential as a destination to attract the best talent.”
Cllr David Molyneux, Leader of Wigan Council, said: “It was a real pleasure to visit this site, which is one of several brownfield developments breathing new life into our town, and creating new spaces for people to live, work, visit and enjoy themselves.”
