Wigan goes out to consultation on estate regeneration plans

Wigan council has launched a public consultation on its plans to regenerate a housing estate, which dates back to the 1960s.

The council is holding a series of public events and workshops from now until the end of July about its regeneration masterplan and delivery strategy for the Worsley Mesnes estate.

Speaking to New Start, the council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for regeneration, Cllr David Molyneux, said the masterplan includes proposals to build 278 new homes on the site.

‘It’s an ideal site to start looking at remodelling and doing some major improvements for the people who live there,’ said Cllr Molyneux.

‘The days of just imposing what you think is right are over’

The proposals also include putting some ‘breathable green spaces’ on the estate, a neighbourhood square and some shops.

Cllr Molyneux said the roads around the estate will also be adapted to make them more compatible with buses and other forms of public transport.

‘Community space is always valuable,’ he adds. ‘If you have a community, you have to allow it space to hold events, so we would like to do as well.

‘The government announced some estate funding some time ago and we, along with the Homes and Communities Agency, looked at areas that would benefit from this. Worsley Mesnes came out at the top of the list as a significant estate, which would benefit from some real generation.

‘The big thing is getting the community itself involved. The days of just imposing what you think is right are over, so there will be a lot of community involvement in looking in how we move the estate forward,’ he added.

Two public drop-in events have already taken place and further sessions will be held later in the year to update the community on the progress being made.

Neighbourhood specialists Gillespies, supported by Cushman & Wakefield, have designed the masterplan itself.

Cllr Molyneux said they are quite keen to engage with young people living on the estate to find out their views.

According to the council, the engagement with young people that has already taken place has focussed attention on the importance of the environment and attractive open spaces.

It is envisaged that the masterplan will be delivered in phases over the next decade.

‘We want to move it along quickly,’ he adds. ‘We’ve already got significant interest from developers.

‘I’m hoping by this time next year you will see some significant changes in the estate itself, said Cllr Molyneux.

For more information, visit here.