Borough Life Autum 2006: This borough means business
Did you know?
- Wigan has the 67th largest economy out of 408 boroughs nation-wide.
- There are eight and a half thousand businesses employing more than 100,000 people.
- The vast majority (75%) of Wigan’s workforce is now employed in so-called ‘service’ industries, such as banking and finance, retailing and wholesaling, health and local government.
- One in four workers are managers/senior officials/professionals.
- Eight per cent are self-employed.
- Every day, over 30,000 people travel out of the borough to work.
Don’t look back
Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Cllr John O’Neill says: “We can’t afford to keep looking back to the golden age of traditional industries – they are not coming back. The emphasis must be on attracting new ones to replace them.
“It’s perhaps a little too early to say ‘ Wigan is booming’, especially given the uncertainty facing hundreds of workers at one or two major companies, but there’s still every reason to be optimistic. We are increasing growth in the economy, supporting local businesses, providing more sites for development and creating more jobs for local people.”
What is the Wigan Economic Development Zone?
In 2002, Wigan Council won £14.2million from the European Regional Development Fund towards the wider £30 million regeneration and investment projects currently in progress in the South Wigan and Ince area. A further £9m worth of building projects is underway as a result of other European grants.
Wigan Council is trying to develop a strong, modern local economy. Why? Because the long-term future of the borough and its people depends on it.
Through working with the borough’s Economic Partnership, the council hopes to generate 1,000 ‘key sector’ jobs per year up to 2020 – and already the signs are promising.
Private and public investment in the borough over the past 12 months is estimated at a breathtaking £410 million.
Looking forward, a number of significant projects will come to fruition in the coming months and years. Five of them are in Wigan’s Foundation Economic Development Zone, where it is hoped that as many as 2,000 jobs could be created. Borough Life takes a look…
Westwood Park : power station transformation
The site of Wigan’s former Westwood power station is set to become the ‘greenest’ business park in the north-west, featuring:
- Waterside ‘pavilions’ complementing the aquatic location adjacent to the Wigan flashes;
- Units built into sloping banks of earth, effectively giving them ‘green’ roofs in harmony with the semi-rural setting; and
- State of the art solar membranes, like glass sails, which wrap themselves around buildings, trapping warmth inside while looking visually stunning from the outside.
It’s hoped at least 1,000 jobs will be created at Westwood.
Wigan Pier Quarter
Exciting re-development work in and around Wigan’s most famous landmark is already well underway.
The Pier Quarter (the area surrounding the basin of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal) is being transformed into what is hoped will become a cultural, heritage, tourism, business and leisure location of regional importance.
Trencherfield Mill, a five-storey, Grade II listed building, is currently being refurbished for residential, office and retail use.
Its world-famous steam engine will take pride of place in the complex, and plans are also being drawn up for a heritage and arts attraction alongside it.
Canalside apartments, restaurants, pubs and shops will add a classy new dimension to the town.
Pemberton
Gladman Developments’ investment on the site of the former Pemberton Colliery is widely regarded as a strong sign of private sector confidence in the borough.
The £16.5million construction work on the eight modern office blocks is expected to be complete by the end of the year and Gladman is highly confident of attracting companies looking for a great location and a loyal workforce.
Gladman Developments’ Mike Sowerby says: “We are proud of our ability to spot opportunities and to act quickly.
“We identified Wigan as a prime area for a speculative office scheme and this site enjoys an enviable location, less than a mile from the M6 motorway and close to the M62 and M58. After discussions with the council we had no hesitation in pursuing this opportunity.”
Makerfield Way , Ince
Knowsley-based developer Units UK has planning permission to build over 22,500 square feet of commercial space on the site of a former iron works. Units UK intend to transform the brownfield site into an attractive proposition for both new businesses and existing small-to-medium sized companies by the end of the year.
The company’s Dean Walsh explains: “Once complete the scheme will provide modern industrial space which will encourage start up enterprises and small businesses to the area and help existing local business expand into more suitable premises.”
Wigan Enterprise Park
The former Gullick Dobson complex located off Manchester Road in Ince was bought six years ago by Birmingham-based St Modwen Properties.
Since then, the company has modernised the existing industrial units and office buildings, attracting companies needing more space and leading to the site being almost fully occupied. More units will be ready later this year – another shot in the arm for job creation.
A grand future
Past will meet future at the £120 million Grand Arcade shopping complex in Wigan. The stylish new food court at the heart of Wigan’s largest single development will be themed around the famous Wigan Casino, which stood on the site until the early 1980s.
Photos and memorabilia will take pride of place in the food court – dubbed The Mezz – thanks to developers Modus and the council, who are keen to see the site of one of Wigan’s most famous attractions properly commemorated. Modus director Tim Heatley says: “It’s going to be a striking piece of architecture, sitting about 22ft in the air with the customers passing through it from the car park.”
As well as a new Debenhams store, the Grand Arcade will include modern new stores for HMV, Waterstones, TK Maxx, Next and BHS, Hennes (H&M) and Streetwise Sports.
And in the east of the borough…
Work is well underway at Leigh Sports Village, the town’s flagship £83million development off Atherleigh Way.
Due for completion by the end of 2007, the full development will feature:
- New sixth form building for Wigan & and Leigh College.
- 10,000-seat stadium for the town’s major sporting clubs, including Leigh Centurions, Leigh RMI and Leigh Harriers.
- Residential development, including student housing.
- Public sports hall and 400m running track with covered sprinting facility and field sports area.
- New building and pitches for Leigh East amateur rugby league club.
- Swimming pool, cinema, health & fitness centre, restaurants and a ten-pin bowling alley.
- Hotel, business and conference centre.
At Bickershaw, work begins early next year on another former colliery site.
Proposals for the transformation of the former pit include a marina, eco-friendly housing, a large area of public open space and leisure activities such as bars, restaurants and shops around the waterfront.
Through links with the local colleges and schools the Bickershaw site will be used for a range of educational benefits including nature conservation, landscape design, renewable energy, art and creativity.