Westwood Park: a cornerstone for Wigan’s flourishing future

Wigan is a borough steeped in history, rich in green spaces, and ambitious in its vision for growth and opportunity, – and at the heart of this vision lies Westwood Park, writes Aidan Thatcher, director of place at Wigan Council.

This strategically significant 58-acre site is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping Wigan’s future. With its prime location, balanced mix of development potential, and commitment to preserving natural beauty, Westwood Park is more than just a development site – it’s a cornerstone for Wigan’s next chapter.

Nestled just one mile south east of Wigan town centre and positioned near Junctions 25 and 26 of the M6, Westwood Park is a key opportunity site for the borough, poised for a mix of residential and employment use.

Its location within Wigan’s borders places it at the intersection of regional commerce and community, with easy access to Manchester, Liverpool, and central Lancashire via well-established road networks. This connectivity will support new employment space and serve the needs of modern businesses.

Westwood Park’s proximity to the West Coast Mainline, Leigh Guided Busway, road network and future ambitions for the Metrolink extension to Leigh will create an attractive gateway into the wider town centre, making the most of strategic connections.

This connectivity is central to plans for the Wigan-Bolton Growth Corridor, one of the strategic locations Greater Manchester has identified to drive significant economic and residential development over the next decade. The development of this site will provide radial transport infrastructure, connecting residents to employment and skills opportunities across the region.

As part of Greater Manchester’s £10bn growth pipeline, the Wigan-Bolton Growth Corridor is set to become a focal point for innovation and investment, blending new housing opportunities with high-quality employment spaces. This corridor is designed to harmonise with Wigan’s industrial heritage while embracing modern infrastructure, making it an ideal location for both businesses and residents.

One of the hallmarks of Westwood Park is its integration with Wigan’s extensive green landscape, an asset that Wigan Council is keen to protect and preserve for future generations. The site will deliver high quality green infrastructure, taking advantage of Westwood Park’s close proximity to Westwood Flash, wider Wigan Flashes, and the Leeds & Liverpool Canal.

Wigan’s canal network is a key part of the town’s industrial past and continues to play an essential role in its regeneration. Canals not only offer picturesque walking and cycling routes but also connect development areas like Eckersley Mill, which is being transformed into a mixed-use urban hub.

Westwood Park has the potential to create an attractive new residential neighbourhood, with scope for a mix of housing options that cater to a range of needs and create a high-quality place to live. Making the most of the location next to Wigan Flashes and connectivity to the town centre, this new neighbourhood support’s Wigan’s ambitions to become a dynamic place to live.

At its core, Westwood Park embodies Wigan’s vision for balanced growth, a place where modern infrastructure meets natural beauty.

Developments like Westwood Park are at the heart of Wigan’s ‘Progress with Unity’ plan, which aims to create a thriving and inclusive borough over the next decade. The plan is a partnership between residents, businesses, public services and community groups which is committed to creating fair opportunities for all and helping Wigan’s towns flourish, with a drive toward net zero.

By creating new employment sites for businesses to thrive, Wigan can deliver on growth in apprenticeships and skills attainment as well as grow local businesses by fostering innovation in foundational sectors and embracing frontier industries.

Westwood Park and other transformative developments in the borough will ignite entrepreneurship, attract investment, and creating opportunities that benefit every community, helping Wigan to shape a future defined by inclusivity, sustainability, and shared prosperity.

• Aidan Thatcher is director of place at Wigan Council