Path clear for £45m ‘nationally significant’ Haigh Hall restoration

Wigan councillors voted yesterday to approve the transformation of the grade two star-listed building into a 59,300 sq ft mixed-use arts and culture facility.

The project would turn Haigh Hall into a “nationally significant” cultural destination, according to Wigan Council. With an estimated cost of £45m, it is also the largest part of the local authority’s £50m plans to spruce up the 250-acre Haigh Woodland Park in which Haigh Hall resides.

Designs by architect Purcell include provision for 2,200 sq ft of restaurant and café facilities, a 1,900 sq ft exhibition hall, and a 9,800 sq ft art gallery. This gallery would host a collection from local artist Theodore Major, which is reportedly worth £200m.

Also in the plans are wedding and events spaces, 10 bedrooms for event guests, offices, and an educational area.

The project also calls for a 3,100 sq ft rooftop extension with a bar to the existing 56,200 sq ft structure.

To accommodate the expected visitors, there would be 710 car parking spaces made available, 43 disabled bays, 27 electric vehicle charging bays, 28 motorcycle spaces, and 20 cycle spaces. There would also be space for eight coaches to park.

In addition to Purcell, the project team includes project manager Atkins Realis, Cundall, Exterior Architecture, Urban Green, Curtins, Invek, and WWM.

You can view the plans by searching application reference A/25/099945/MAJOR on Wigan Council’s planning portal.

Read more about the project.