Phase one of £300m regeneration of town gets thumbs up

THE first phase of a £300m regeneration scheme in Wigan Borough has been given the go-ahead.



Wigan Council’s planning committee has given the green light for the first part of the North Leigh Park regeneration scheme.



It will deliver 162 high quality new homes off Nel Pan Lane as well as a new access point, green open spaces and wildlife corridors.



North Leigh Park is being delivered thanks to a private and public sector partnership between North Leigh Park Group Limited (NLPGL) and Wigan Council.

The long term proposals for North Leigh Park includes 1,800 new homes that will form part of Wigan Council’s future housing supply.

It will also include 555,000sq ft of new employment space, about 19 acres of improved strategic green infrastructure and a local centre with community uses.

Construction and permanent jobs will be created for local people. 

​The approval of the first detailed plans follows the granting of outline planning permission in February 2013.

North Leigh Park is the only key strategic site in the borough allocated for housing in Wigan’s core strategy.

The scheme will see a major inward investment of over £300m to the benefit of local areas of Leigh and Hindley and will act as a catalyst to further economic growth to the Wigan Borough.

Karl Battersby, Wigan Council’s director for economy and environment, said:  “It is great news that the planning committee has given the go-ahead for the first phase of the North Leigh Park scheme.

“North Leigh Park is of strategic importance to Wigan Borough in delivering the quantity and quality of housing that our residents will desperately need in the coming years.

“The major investment into the area will significantly boost Wigan Borough’s economy and deliver a huge number of jobs not only in the construction of the scheme but also in the employment sites that are part of the scheme.”

Paul Jarvis, a spokesperson for North Leigh Park Group, said: “This is a significant milestone in kick-starting the delivery of the wider regeneration scheme at North Leigh.

“The first phase will deliver 162 high quality new homes off Nel Pan Lane, 26 acres of green open spaces and wildlife corridors as well provide a significant new gateway into the development.

“North Leigh Park Group is now progressing plans for the remediation of the site to provide a safer, cleaner, more sustainable environment for wildlife and local communities for the benefit of current and future generations.”

North Leigh Park Group will also deliver a new sports pitch at Howe Bridge to bring improvements to local play provision and improve the existing pitches at Marsh Playing fields on Wigan Road as part of the first phase.

Wigan Council has committed to funding the delivery of a major new east-west link road that will join the A578 Leigh Road to the A579 Atherleigh Way.

The road will significantly improve traffic conditions and accessibility in the area, unlocking the site and wider regeneration corridor.

NLPGL will remediate the brownfield site to provide a safer, cleaner, more sustainable environment for wildlife and local communities to access and enjoy including safe, managed formal and informal play areas for children and families, nature, fitness and public art trails, water features, dog walking and improved ecological habitats to encourage wildlife.

Full remediation of the site is expected to take 18 to 24 months and to be completed in 2018.