The Galleries Shopping Centre, a retail hub in Wigan, UK, is being redeveloped to create a new retail, residential and leisure destination and transform the town centre.
Wigan Council acquired the Galleries Shopping Centre through a transaction completed in 2018. The shopping centre redevelopment project will involve an estimated investment of £130m ($173.55m). The construction is expected to start in early 2022 and will be completed in 2025.
The project will provide 475 jobs during construction and an additional 190 jobs upon the opening of the mall.
The Galleries shopping centre location
Located in the heart of Wigan Town Centre, the shopping complex features three different areas – the Galleries Shopping Centre, the Makinson Arcade, and Marketgate. It includes covered malls and external walkways.
The Galleries shopping centre redevelopment details
The redevelopment of the existing 440,000ft² shopping centre will create a new mixed-use complex with an associated new vibrant market. It will develop a multi-media centre that will include a six-screen cinema, a ten-lane bowling alley, music and e-sports venue, indoor mini-golf, as well as food and beverage outlets.
The project will reduce the retail space and add a diverse range of areas for hospitality, leisure and entertainment purposes. A new hotel and 464 residential units will be created, along with an evening entertainment space and a landscaped public square that will host outdoor events. The existing basement will be added with 460 car parking spaces.
Other components of the redevelopment scheme will include a reimagined Makinson Arcade, a new market hall, a food hall, co-working space, and small offices. The scheme will create a new purpose-built destination and make the town centre a better place to visit, work, and live.
New sustainability features
The shopping destination will be installed with energy-efficient water fittings to reduce the use of water. Photovoltaic cells will also be installed to produce solar power. In addition, the mall will include electric car charging points and cycle storage in the existing car park.
Construction
Construction of the redevelopment will involve sustainable construction techniques to reduce the impact on the environment.
Works on the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Work Stage three is expected to begin in early-2021.
Retail offerings and amenities at the Galleries Shopping Centre
The shopping facility includes more than 60 high street and independent stores. Fashion outlets at the mall include Simply Fashion, Toni & Guy, and Yours Clothing.
The mall houses jewellery stores such as Ernest Jones, Cawley Jewellers, Claire’s, and discount stores such as Savers, Poundland, and Home Bargains.
Other stores include the Royal Bank of Scotland, Spectrum, Health Watch Wigan, H&T Pawnbrokers. Located on Mesnes Street, the car park accommodates 625 parking spaces.
Dining and entertainment venues
Dining options at the shopping centre include Country Larder Café, the Little Kitchen, and Toffee Ron’s. Visitors to the mall can enjoy a range of entertainment options, including Adrenaline Escape, Games N More, Gibsons Sports, and access art galleries, including Beaverbrook and Select.
Contractors involved
Galleries25, a joint venture between Beijing Construction Engineering Group International (BCEGI) and Cityheart, was selected as the Strategic Development Partner for the redevelopment of the mall in December 2020. It will work with Wigan Council to finalise the details of the development before the start of construction.
The project team also includes jmarchitects, WSP Structures, DEP Landscape Architects, Zerum Planning, and Ridge Engineering.
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