Wigan Pier’s ‘come on down’ message
THE world famous Wigan Pier is at the centre of ambitious development plans to regenerate the area.
Included in the scheme for the attraction – on the banks of the Leeds-Liverpool Canal – includes a 1,200 seat performance venue, new shops, restaurants, homes, car parking, boat mooring and waterside landscaping.
The project is to be led by specialist waterside regeneration developer H2O Urban, in conjunction with Wigan Council and the Canal & River Trust.
H2O has previously worked on successful schemes in Northwich, Lancaster and London, and its trail-blazing custom-build work was recently featured on BBC Panorama as a solution to the UK housing crisis.
This month marks the launch of the first phase of the Wigan Pier Quarter redevelopment – a chance for leading retailers and restaurant operators to put their hat into the ring for the scheme.
On offer is a 2.5 acre brownfield site, nestling between the River Douglas and the iconic Wigan Pier heritage buildings. Situated off Southgate, a bustling arterial road out of Wigan, the site is a former bus depot which has been completely cleared and primed for development.
Richard Thomas, development manager for H2O Urban, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for retail and leisure operators to create a bespoke presence in the thriving town of Wigan. With a population of nearly 320,000 people, Wigan is the second most populated borough within Greater Manchester and is at the centre of a thriving economy.
“Wigan Pier is a unique part of our industrial heritage. Everyone has heard of it which gives the Wigan Pier Quarter a huge advantage from a marketing point of view. We want to embrace the past but focus very much on the future for this amazing location.
“Retailers and leisure operators who get involved early in the process will have the chance to pick the prime locations on either a short or long leasehold basis. Building is expected to begin in the next few months and businesses could be open for trading as early as 2016.”
Cllr David Molyneux, Wigan Council’s cabinet member for regeneration, said: “Wigan Pier is a world famous location and this is a unique opportunity for retail and leisure operators to be part of its successful regeneration.
“We are working with our partners at H2O to deliver a high quality development that will put Wigan Pier back on the map as a destination for visitors from across the North West and further afield.
“By getting in early operators have the chance of choosing the very best locations. Wigan Council has an excellent reputation for working productively with businesses and I’m sure there will be a lot of interest in this very exciting opportunity.”
