The Galleries

A transformational mixed-use scheme that will see the complete redevelopment of Wigan town centre on the former Galleries Shopping Centre, Market Hall, and Marketgate Shopping Centre sites to create an entirely new destination focussing on the town’s sustainable future.

Date

2026

Client

Cityheart/ BCEGI

Value

£135m

Following a successful competitive bid process to Wigan Council, jmarchitects were appointed in December 2020 in collaboration Cityheart and BCEGI to design and deliver the £135m transformation of the Wigan Galleries shopping complex. Plans will see the retail hub completely re-imagined with design proposals including leisure and entertainment facilities, a hotel, hundreds of new homes, a new market hall and a large public square for outdoor events. In doing so providing Wigan town centre with new purpose-built destination and attractive options for living, working, and visiting to ensure it has a sustainable long-term future.

The masterplan totally transforms The Galleries with a reduction in retail space and a focus on leisure, with a multimedia centre including a six-screen cinema, a music and E-sport venue, a 10-lane bowling alley, an indoor mini golf facility and food and beverage outlets all being proposed. The scheme also includes an evening entertainment space, a 144-bed hotel, 483 residential units, a new market hall including a contemporary food hall, a co-working space, and indoor market, landscaped public areas for annual outdoor events and a basement car park.

The hybrid planning application for the transformation of the Wigan Galleries shopping complex was submitted in June 2021. RIBA Work Stage 3 will commence in earnest in August 2021 with an intended start date on site of February 2022.

The Leader of Wigan Council, Councillor David Molyneux, says: “These proposals very much reflect the feedback we got from residents about the importance of vibrant town centres during the Big Listening Project in 2018 and the more recent consultation held earlier this year. Now more than ever it’s vital we do everything we can to create exciting and welcoming town centres to help support our local businesses and jobs. These plans do just that and I certainly can’t wait to see them materialise.”

Project gallery

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