Home Local News Greater Manchester regeneration scheme reaches key milestone

Greater Manchester regeneration scheme reaches key milestone

0

A key milestone in the delivery of a major regeneration scheme in Greater Manchester has been achieved.

North Leigh Park will bring 1,800 new homes and new employment land to former industrial wasteland near Leigh in the borough of Wigan.

The private and public sector partnership between North Leigh Park Group Limited (NLPGL) and Wigan Council has now taken a significant step forward in delivering the scheme with the submission and registration of a reserved matters application for the first phase.

This will deliver 162 high quality new homes off Nel Pan Lane – a detailed application for a new access off Nel Pan Lane has also been submitted. It 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 around £310 million to the benefit of local areas of Leigh and Hindley and will act as a catalyst to further economic growth to the Wigan Borough.

The proposals include the delivery of 1,800 quality new homes that form part of Wigan Council’s future housing supply, 51,000 square metres of new employment space, approximately 19 hectares (47 acres) of improved strategic green infrastructure and a local centre with community and retail uses.

Construction and permanent jobs will be created for local people. Detailed plans for the first phase are now being considered by Wigan Council and will be determined in the coming weeks.

Lord Peter Smith, Leader of Wigan Council, said:  “It is great news that the first detailed step to deliver the North Leigh site has been made.

“The North Leigh Park scheme 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.

“Our vision, which is set out in our Economic Prospectus launched last year, is to create 10,000 new jobs over the next decade and the regeneration of North Leigh is crucial to us achieving that goal.”

Paul Jarvis, a spokesperson for North Leigh Park Group Limited said: “We are delighted that the reserved matters application for the first phase has been registered. It is a very positive step in the delivery of this very important regeneration.

“There is no doubt that the regeneration and remediation of North Leigh Park will deliver a massive economic stimulus to Leigh and Hindley, providing new quality housing, high quality business premises, safe managed public open space and wildlife corridors to meet the needs of the present and future generations that live and work in the local area.”

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.

The brownfield site is currently scarred by the remnants of its heavy mining and industrial past, including open cast quarries, landfills, over thirty mine shafts, colliery spoil waste tips, scrap yard uses and former sewage treatment works.

NLPGL will remediate these hazards and contamination 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 – 24 months and to be completed in 2018.

An application for the delivery of a new sports pitch at Howe Bridge has also been registered which will see further improvements to local play provision.

Improvements to the existing pitches at Marsh Playing fields on Wigan Road, Leigh are also planned.

To read Wigan Council’s Economic Prospectus and to find out more about doing business in Wigan Borough visit Wigan Works.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here