Wigan Life centre wins regeneration prize
THE £50m Wigan Life Centre was named as the best regeneration project in the region at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors’ 2012 North West awards last night.
The 215,000 sq ft centre, which was built by Morgan Sindall, contains central offices and a contact centre for the council, the local NHS trusts and various community groups. There is also a new public library and a healthy living zone containing a 25-metre public swimming pool, a separate learning pool and a gym.
The prize for best regeneration project was one of eight handed out on the night.
Best commercial property was won by Afflecks of Manchester (right), the 
redevelopment of Ordsall Hall Museum in Salford won a Building Conservation award, while Brockholes Visitor Village in Lancashire won both the tourism & leisure and the design & innovation prizes. It was also named Project of the Year.
Jane Thompson, chairman of the RICS regional judging panel said: “Brockholes Visitor Village is an outstanding example of design and innovation which illustrates the talent and skills of our region’s property professionals.
“It epitomises everything that a modern built scheme should be – not only is it attractive and highly innovative in its design, but it is also highly sustainable, making it extremely deserving of its Project of the Year honour.”
Brockholes is the UK’s first floating visitor centre which contains a visitor village, restaurant and shops. Judges praised its sustainable credentials, striking design and commercial proposition.
A full list of winners appears below.
• Building Conservation – Ordsall Hall Museum, Salford
• Regeneration – Wigan Life Centre, Wigan
• Infrastructure – MediaCityUK Footbridge, Salford
• Community Benefit – Heywood Sports Village, Rochdale
• Commercial property – Afflecks, Manchester
• Design & Innovation – Brockholes Visitor Village, Lancashire
• Residential property – Greenheys Development, Moss Side, Manchester
• Tourism & Leisure – Brockholes Visitor Village, Lancashire
