How Fettlers is becoming a turning point for Wigan

Every town has its turning point, a project or a moment that redefines its future, writes Aidan Thatcher of Wigan Council.

For Wigan, that moment is unfolding now in the heart of the town centre with Fettlers: a £135m regeneration project transforming the former Galleries shopping centre into a new neighbourhood.

This project represents the chance to rethink how town centres evolve in the 21st century, how they can celebrate heritage while building places that connect people and communities in a meaningful way.

Like many town centres across the UK, Wigan had seen traditional retail decline, with its town centre no longer serving its community in the ways it had previously. When Wigan Council purchased the Galleries in 2018, the challenge of creating something meaningful once again was clear, it needed to create a space that would bring people back into the heart of the town, not just as consumers but as residents, workers and visitors.

Wigan Council is working with Cityheart on Fettlers. Credit: via Inform Comms

The name Fettlers itself is emblematic of that ambition. Drawn from our local dialect – where ‘fettlin’ means to fix, mend and make – it nods to not only Wigan’s industrial heritage, but its history of remedying something to benefit more people, in this case, restoring the town centre to suit the new needs of local people.

At its core, Fettlers is a mixed-use development that will have flexible uses and designed to be human-centred. Its phased delivery reflects the strategy to balance the area’s much-needed renewal, while continually considering the economic, social and cultural impact the changes will make.

The redevelopment of the former Galleries site represents a more sustainable approach to growth. By repurposing a large brownfield site in the heart of the town, Fettlers reduces pressure on unnecessary greenfield land while supporting more compact, accessible living. The mixed-use nature of the development encourages people to live, work and spend time locally.

The first building to rise on site is the new 70,000 sq ft Market Hall, which is due to open later this year. The reimagined public trading space will house traders, producers and makers reconnecting customers with vibrant offerings including a traditional market stall set up and a contemporary food hall anchoring daily activity and injecting life back into the town centre.

Some of the project team on site at Fettlers. Credit: Wigan Council

A six-storey 144-bed Hampton by Hilton hotel has just begun construction and is set to open in winter 2027. With meeting facilities, a gym, dining space and more than 40 jobs on offer, it signals the confidence we have in making Wigan a regional destination for visitors.

These two pivotal developments will be complemented by workspace, leisure venues, bars and restaurants. All of which will be designed to extend evening and weekend footfall. Interwoven through these will be over 400 homes, bringing new residents into the town centre and building on the vibrancy already present throughout Wigan.

What sets Fettlers apart from other investment is the intent behind it. Typical urban regeneration can fall into generic place making, with no consideration for what the community will need, especially in the long term. Fettlers instead aim to rebuild the social glue of Wigan’s town centre that has since been lost since the decline of the typical retail high street.

From the outset, the project has focused on creating opportunities for local people through each of its life stages, starting with construction jobs before creating longer term employment opportunities in hospitality and leisure, and by giving independent traders a prominent place to grow their business. This approach will help build skills, retain talent and keep economic value circulating locally.

By combining housing, workspace, hospitality, leisure and retail around activated public spaces, we are creating a town centre that works at all times of day and for a broader range of people. Fettlers sits within a broader strategic effort to invigorate Wigan’s town centre. Investment in workspace at Civic, heritage-led regeneration at Cotton Works, and improved public realm are interconnected – they are forming a network of places that together make Wigan a more compelling place to live, work and visit.

The Market Hall is a statement about who we are as a borough, what our people create and what we provide for Greater Manchester and beyond. As its creation progresses alongside work on the hotel and the other leisure facilities, the momentum is palpable. However, its real measure of success will be how people use these spaces, how traders thrive, and how the centre once again becomes the town’s heart of everyday life.

Regeneration is rarely a quick fix, it encompasses investment, identity, collaboration and consultation between all involved and requires all voices being heard. When Wigan succeeds in its plans, Fettlers will be a turning point in the borough’s future and will bring a new spark of life to its town centre.

• Aidan Thatcher is director of place at Wigan Council. To learn more about investments opportunities in Wigan read more here.