Its name is known to many thanks to George Orwell’s 1937 book about working class life in the north of England, The Road to Wigan Pier. But today the area is a step closer to a major regeneration scheme after a developer was chosen to transform the canal side location.
H20 Urban will undertake a mixed use development comprising retail units, a new marina, and a performance venue expected to be able to seat 1,200 visitors. There will also be a number of new homes constructed on the site to further the local authority’s aim of boosting footfall in the town centre.
Although developers are yet to confirm the total cost of the project initial estimates indicate that Wigan council, along with a number of investors, will channel millions of pounds into the redevelopment.
H20 Urban will work with the council and the Canal and River Trust over the next 10 years to ensure the ambitious initiative meets the expectations of local residents and visitors to the area alike.
Councillor David Molyneux, deputy leader of Wigan council, hopes that the redevelopment will encourage businesses and developers to consider Wigan as a prime destination in the future.
He says; “There’s been a lot of talk in Westminster political circles about Wigan Pier going back to the 1930s, but the reality here in Wigan is that we’re looking to the future, not the past.
“We’ve come up with an exciting new vision for a Wigan Pier Quarter and signed a deal with a proven developer to deliver this – it will bring prosperity and opportunity to the whole town.
“This development will provide the mechanism for attracting investment and development in this area and make sure it has a bright future.”
As part of the redevelopment, the famous Wigan Pier nightclub was taken over by the council and was finally demolished in December of last year. The property was popular during the mid-1990s but was forced to close due to issues surrounding noise levels in 2010 and had since fallen into disrepair.
In its place, H20 Urban will create a community garden in conjunction with making improvements to the towpath next to the canal. There is also talk of bringing the building which formerly housed the popular tourist attraction “The Way We Were” back into use, although the exact nature of this plan is yet to be revealed to the public.
H20 Urban development manager Richard Thomas says; “Wigan Pier is a world famous destination and we want to create somewhere that lives up to that fame.
“We will be developing the plans during 2015 and will be looking to start the first phase of works shortly thereafter.
“This is an exciting project and we look forward to delivering a project that Wigan can be proud of.”
