Wigan Town Centre : Welcome

Action Against Crime Awards
Businesses in Wigan Town Centre are part of the Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP), which is a scheme run by the Home Office's Action Against Business Crime (AABC).

BCRPs perform a valuable function as part of local community efforts to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour which effects businesses, their staff, customers and the community. Their work is now recognised by police, community safety and CDRPs as providing a valuable source of information and demonstrating practical steps to identify offenders and anti-social elements and to work together to manage their behaviour more effectively.

To ensure that BCRPs operate to high standards, AABC manages the Safer Business Award, which has been designed with help from the information Commissioner to ensure that partnerships operate legally and in accordance with the Data Protection Act and data protection principles. AABC has also developed the Safer Socialising Award to provide partnerships with a system for rewarding licensed premises who can demonstrate good standards of management.

Businesses in Wigan Town Centre are currently working towards attaining the Safer Business and Safer Socialising Awards. Watch this space for more information about them.

Eastern Gateway
An ambitious blue print for reviving Wigan Town Centre's run down eastern fringes has been published by the Council. The area newly christened the Eastern Gateway includes some well-known buildings like the former police station, Wigan International Pool and the old town hall.

Council planners have drawn up detailed guidance for developers, aimed at creating what they hope will become a 'dynamic new district' within walking distance of the town centre.

Already bold plans are in the pipeline, including an eighteen storey tower on the site of the former Millgate car park. Environmental improvements to the area also form a key part of the document. The potential to upgrade existing open spaces and waterways, including improved town centre access to the River Douglas have been investigated.

An application has already been submitted to the Council to transform the former town hall site, which was destroyed in an arson attack several years ago, into a major new development. The development will include offices, retail outlets, apartments and town houses with rooftop gardens.

MORE »

Northern Crescent
A masterplan and Urban Design Framework is currently being drawn up for the Northern Crescent area of Wigan Town Centre. The area stretches from Dorning Street in the west, to Riverway in the east and includes the northern section of The Galleries / Marketgate shopping centres and Mesnes Playing Fields, through to Lower Standishgate and the Gateway House complex.

The aim of the masterplan is to increase investment in the area, which includes The Galleries and Marketgate Shopping Centres and the market / market hall areas.

MORE »

Joint Service Centre
The ground breaking new 'hub' scheme, which will revitalise the civic heart of the borough by creating a unique council and leisure 'hub' is bang on schedule. It will mean a state of the art new library and swimming pool will be built as well as transforming the way public services are delivered across the Borough and the quality of vital facilities for residents.

At the heart of the private finance initiative £67m will be replacement buildings for Wigan International Pool and Municipal Buildings, currently located next to Wigan Town Hall, but the wider effect is to create a new 'Joint Service Centre' which will improve access to public services throughout the Borough. Benefits of the project will include:

A one-stop shop and contact centre providing longer opening hours with access points in each township area.
A new central library and information zone on the site of the Municipal Buildings (though discussions are taking place to ensure the distinctive heritage features of the building are retained).
A new swimming pool, with flexible use of water space, designed to the national standard.
Complementary exercise and health improvement facilities together with a GP surgery and clinic.
Facilities bringing together a range of public services including council, health, housing, leisure, police, fire and the voluntary service.