CONSULTATION LAUNCHES AT WIGAN ENTERPRISE PARK
Leading regeneration specialist St. Modwen has launched a consultation with local residents and businesses around the future of Wigan Enterprise Park in Ince-in-Makerfield.
The consultation has unveiled proposals to transform the site from an industrial complex to a mixed-use residential and employment development.
Local residents and businesses are being encouraged to share their views on a range of ideas which include a mix of family housing, neighbourhood shops and new employment units, as well as new public open space and pedestrian and cycle links with the surrounding community.
The design for all the options puts significant focus on enhancing the existing watercourse which runs through the site, using additional landscaping and publically-accessible open space to compliment the features of the site.
Wigan Enterprise Park is currently a 33-acre industrial site, containing some 380,000 sq. ft. of industrial units, a substantial percentage of which is empty.
St. Modwen, which bought the site from Joy Mining Machinery in 2001, has discussed future options for the site with Wigan Borough Council and has shared the plans with existing occupiers. The consultation is gathering public opinion to help shape the plans ahead of a planning application later in the year.
The aspiration is to bring about a major new mixed-use development for the area, which if granted planning permission, would aim to deliver significant regeneration, new employment and housing growth to the area.
Development director at St. Modwen, Steven Knowles, said: “We are really keen now to get feedback from local residents and businesses on three different options which show varying amounts of family housing, neighbourhood shops and employment uses. All the feedback will be used to help shape the ideas under discussion around the future of the site.
“We have seen a steady decline in take up of the existing older industrial units on the estate and this has led us to consider alternative uses for the site alongside better quality employment space.”
A small redevelopment of Enterprise Park phase one was completed in 2006 consisting of 12 starter units and there is also an existing planning consent for phase two which will create an additional 35,572 sq. ft. of units. These elements are designated to be kept under the proposals currently being considered.
The site borders Amberswood Common – a popular area with walkers and fishers. It is currently accessed from Seaman Way but a new road link will run through the site to provide better accessibility.
The consultation took place on 9th May in Ince Public Hall. For those who were unable to attend, information is available on the website – www.theplanningstudio.co.uk – and people can e-mail comments to wigan-enterprise@theplanningstudio.co.uk.
