A major proposal to build a new neighbourhood of 1,800 homes on a former industrial site in Leigh has been unveiled, with developers urging local residents and businesses to have their say.
Transforming a Brownfield Liability
Developer Vistry has announced it is progressing the next phases of residential development at North Leigh Park. The company describes the scheme as a 'significant opportunity' to prevent a complex former industrial site, affected by historic mining, quarrying, and landfill, from becoming a long-term environmental problem.
Instead, the vision is to remediate the land and transform it into a safe, usable area featuring new homes, green spaces, and community facilities. Outline planning permission for up to 1,800 homes, a local centre with leisure and health facilities, public open space, and road improvements was originally granted back in 2013.
Homes, Infrastructure, and Green Space
With 186 homes already completed, the forthcoming stages aim to deliver a further 1,500 new properties. Vistry states this will help meet local housing needs and allow more people to live and work in the borough.
The project promises major infrastructure upgrades, most notably a new road link between Leigh Road in Hindley Green and Atherleigh Way. This is intended to ease pressure on existing roads and improve connections across Wigan.
Plans also include creating new green spaces, enhancing links to walking and cycling networks, and improving habitats around the existing pond to the north of the site.
Public Consultation and Accelerated Delivery
Vistry is inviting feedback on the latest proposals at a public exhibition. This will be held at Leigh Sports Village on Thursday, January 22, from 3pm to 7pm. Project team members will be on hand to answer questions, with feedback forms available both at the event and online.
Matthew Parkes, Managing Director of Vistry Manchester and Cheshire East, encouraged community participation: "We want to hear from local people about the proposals... and share their views."
The North Leigh Park site is identified in Wigan Council's local plan to address housing demand. It has also been selected as one of six priority locations for the Government's New Homes Accelerator programme, which aims to fast-track the delivery of affordable homes and supporting infrastructure.
