Nearly 1,500 new homes planned for North Leigh Park development in Wigan
Detailed proposals submitted for major housing project and trunk road connection
Detailed plans for a substantial housing development project at North Leigh Park have been submitted to Wigan Council, proposing 1,491 new homes alongside sections of a trunk road to enhance connectivity.
Originally, outline permission for up to 1,700 homes was granted in 2013, but the recent planning application provides specific information about the layout, appearance, landscaping, and scale for the bulk of the community.
Development proposals
The Vistry Group's design and access statement outlines a vision for a sustainable and attractive neighborhood that will serve as a strategic link between junction 5 of the M61 and junction 26 of the M6.
North Leigh Park, situated 2.6km north-west of Leigh town centre, spans 178 acres with a significant industrial history. It was once used for coal mining, sand extraction, waste management, and other purposes.
“The application for approval relates to 68 hectares of the site," the report explained. "The proposed development parcels have been designed to strategically avoid highly contaminated areas."
Past and future developments
Prior to these new plans, two sections of the site were successfully developed, with 87 homes near Nel Pan Lane by Countryside Properties in 2021 and 99 homes on the northern edge by Bellway Homes, accessed via Tiverton Avenue.
The site is part of the Government's New Homes Accelerator programme, designed to overcome planning barriers and expedite affordable housing and infrastructure delivery.
Matthew Parkes, managing director at Vistry Manchester and Cheshire East, emphasized the significance of redeveloping the complex former industrial site.
“This is a significant opportunity to prevent a complex former industrial site becoming a long-term environmental problem and instead turn it into a well-planned new neighbourhood, with new homes, green spaces, local facilities and improved connections," Parkes said.
Wigan Council is expected to review the detailed plans for North Leigh Park in the coming weeks, determining the future of this major housing initiative.