Details emerge of Galleries overhaul
BCEGI and Cityheart, the consortium appointed earlier this month to deliver the £130m transformation of the Wigan shopping complex, propose building 464 homes, a six-screen cinema and a music venue.
In addition, the scheme, which was originally predicted to cost £125m, would see a reduction in retail space and a focus on leisure, with a bowling alley and indoor mini-golf attraction also proposed.
A hotel, food & beverage units and a 460-space car park also feature in the consortium’s plans, alongside a market hall that would feature a food hall, co-working space and small office suites.
Wigan Council selected the Chinese-owned Beijing Construction Engineering Group International and Chester-based Cityheart to deliver the 440,000 sq ft revamp this month, as revealed by Place North West.
The joint venture beat off competition from regeneration specialist Muse Developments and a partnership between Maple Grove Developments and Urban Splash.
The overhaul of the Galleries, which the council bought from Luxembourg-based firm Colcastor in March 2018, is due to begin in 2022 and complete in 2025.
The Galleries will include a cinema, music venue, indoor mini golf centre and a bowling alley
Mark McNamee, managing director at Cityheart, said the project is a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to redevelop the complex to create a new living, entertainment and leisure destination”.
Dongwen Yu, lead director of BCEGI, added that the project is “extremely important” and also “cements BCEGI’s long-term future in the region, a future we believe will benefit the council and the people of the borough for years to come”.
BCEGI is also delivering a £250m overhaul of Crompton Place Shopping Centre with Midia in Bolton, while Cityheart was picked to deliver the residential element of the £120m Stockport Interchange in February, alongside Rise Homes.
