Esports center planned in England town Wigan

Article posted by Coliseum, June 28^th, 2021

Image: Wigan Council

A hybrid planning application for the proposed £135m repurposing of the Galleries Shopping Centre in Wigan (UK) was submitted recently to include an esports center.

If given the nod, work is expected to start on site in January next year. More than 600 full-time equivalent jobs would be generated once the development is operational, with more lined up during the construction stage.

‘Insider Media Limited’ stated that Cityheart and Wigan Council submitted the application, which includes detailed and outline proposals covering an array of leisure facilities for the revamped structure – an exciting multimedia center, which would be home to a multiscreen cinema, a ten-lane bowling alley, food and drink outlets, a multipurpose venue, and indoor mini golf apart from the esports center mentioned above.

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The Galleries is a shopping complex in the town center of Wigan, Greater Manchester (UK) owned by the Wigan Council. It is divided into three sections formed from three formally independent schemes: The Galleries Shopping Centre, Marketgate Shopping Centre and The Makinson Arcade.

The Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council is the local authority for the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan in the United Kingdom. It consists of 75 Councilors with one-third being elected every three years in four. The borough is separated into 25 wards.

Founded in 2005 by Managing Director, Mark McNamee, Cityheart specializes in working with the public sector to deliver and manage regeneration projects across the United Kingdom. It has also successfully delivered specialist healthcare, judicial, extra care, education, and student accommodation buildings.

A hybrid application is one that seeks outline planning permission for one part and full planning permission for another part of the same site.

A pavilion off Market Street is also lined up, as is a more centrally located market hall, a hotel and 464 homes.

‘Insider Media Limited’ quoted Warren Taylor, Director, Cityheart, as stating, “Submission of the hybrid application marks an important milestone and step forward in the delivery of this critically important redevelopment project in the heart of Wigan town center. Over the last six months, the team has carried out extensive consultation events and one-to-one sessions with local businesses and residents to share our exciting and innovative vision for the future of Wigan Town Centre that will dramatically revitalize the area and become a place where people will want to live, work and visit.”

Added Taylor, “These plans support the Wigan Town Centre Strategic Regeneration Framework developed by the Council last year and are a vital step in securing the future economic success and sustainability of the heart of the town.”

Cityheart’s joint venture partner is BCEGI, which will spearhead the construction program for the new scheme. BCEGI is the international arm of the Beijing Construction Engineering Group (BCEG).

Put in Becca Heron, Director, Economy and Skills, Wigan Council, “We thank the public for their helpful comments to date and as the local planning authority, we urge people to read the application and supporting documents and formally submit their views. The application is now going through the statutory process and will be determined in the autumn in line with national and local planning policy.”

Cityheart is being advised by the independent law firm Brabners in relation to the project.

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