Capital&Centric’s redevelopment of Wigan’s former civic centre has been given the go-ahead by planners.
The firm’s plans for ‘Civic’ will see the concrete, brutalist building on Millgate restored and repurposed.
Working in partnership with Wigan Council and supported by UKSPF, Capital&Centric intends to deliver new workspace, a gym and mini cinema, cycle storage and roof terrace at the scheme.
There will also be a new coffee shop complete with a spill-out terrace, in addition to outdoor seating spots along Millgate.
Sabine Dunstan, development manager at Capital&Centric, said: “The model for businesses across the country is changing. With hybrid working here to stay, people want more creative workspaces and increasingly need inspiring and social spaces that bring people together. Civic will do just that, with not only stunning office spaces in a design-led building, but loads of break-out amenity spaces that will foster interaction between neighbouring businesses.
“The green light from Wigan Council clears the way for the main restoration to get going. These 70s concrete buildings really divide opinion from people who either love or loathe them. We’re firmly in the former camp and we’ll prove brutalist can be beautiful. Civic has been dormant for too long and we can’t wait to reveal it’s new look next spring.”
Councillor David Molyneux MBE, leader of Wigan Council, added: “This is a really exciting step forward for this project, set to create high quality business space alongside fantastic facilities, in our town centre. This sustainable redevelopment is just one of a number of exciting projects taking place across our town centre, including Wigan Pier, Eckersley Mills and of course the former Galleries, all supporting the regeneration of Wigan as a place where people choose to live, work, visit and invest.”
