Visible progress is being seen across Leigh town centre as regeneration projects set to invest £32m over the next ten years are underway.
In recent weeks, residents will have been able to see progress at Civic Square as the space is transformed into a much safer and more attractive environment, with new paving, seating, planting, trees, and event space set to be installed to enhance community use.
With a temporary tarmac surface laid while works continue, the plan is to build on the successful events hosted in recent years – including Women’s Euros fan park, Leigh Leopards Challenge Cup homecoming, the King’s Coronation, and Leigh Feast food markets – which will ensure that the square continues to serve as a cultural, community space for all.
Working alongside the Leigh, Atherton, and Tyldesley Heritage Group, a heritage timeline has also been designed to feature key events from the square’s past, while local poet Louise Fazackerley has created a poem that will be carved into the new paving and reflect on the area’s history, created with input from local youth group ‘Leigh Young Writers’.
With the square’s Believe Stars set to be refreshed and reinstalled – along with a new star for chart-topping Leigh band The Lottery Winners – the new-look square is expected to be unveiled in summer 2026.
Over on Bradshawgate, residents will have also been able to see the first venue to have benefitted from the council’s building grant scheme to revamp shop fronts.
Located at the former Finesse gift shop at 98 Bradshawgate, the 1920’s themed tearoom offers a selection of scrumptious, homecooked meals, while also donating produce to residents in need and providing a welcoming space to connect, network, and support the community.
Speaking about the shop front project, Val Hogan, founder of the community project, said: “Everything we do gets reinvested into the community, and our new shop front has had an amazing impact.
“We have had lovely feedback and lots of people coming to visit us. The unique touches and attention to detail are fabulous, and it feels like there is quite a bit of excitement on Bradshawgate now that the regeneration project is starting.”
Sensitive building work has also started at Twentymans Pizza, Jazz Hairdressing, and 97-99 Bradshawgate, with 15 grants made available to upgrade premises and revamp shop fronts throughout Leigh town centre.
Both of these projects have been funded by the government’s Levelling Up Fund following Wigan Council’s successful £11.4m bid in 2023.
Funding for the town’s third Levelling Up project will be used to revamp and refurbish Leigh Market, with significant and necessary repair work set to take place in early 2027.
A long-standing focal point for the town, the market’s refurbishment intends to complement the venue’s diverse offer and create a modern, more attractive environment for generations to come. Discussions with traders remain ongoing in regard to a temporary market space while works take place next year.
With further aims to breathe new life into Leigh town centre, a High Street Rental Auction (HSRA) zone was also approved last year, which will hand the council additional powers to bring long-term vacant properties back into use through a structured notice and auction process.
Additionally, outline plans for the town’s Pride in Place fund was agreed by the Leigh Neighbourhood Board in November 2025, which will see £20m invested into Leigh over the next decade.
Listening to the feedback of more than 1,500 responses from a public consultation, the independently chaired Board agreed on eight priorities to transform how people see and experience Leigh, and ensure that the town feels safe and welcoming.
With the Pride in Place serving as a longer-term scheme aiming to create vibrant, safer, healthier neighbourhoods where communities can thrive, two priorities will be the immediate focus; to set the town centre on a prosperous footing and tackle crime and anti-social behaviour.
It was also announced last year that Leigh will become a Mayoral Development Zone (MDZ), placing even more focus on investment and regeneration with plans for a University Campus for Health and Social Care, as well as the development of the case for rapid transport connectivity to Leigh including Metrolink.
Speaking about the regeneration projects in Leigh, Councillor David Molyneux MBE, Leader of Wigan Council, said: “It is great to see the regeneration projects well underway in Leigh, and I’m sure that residents will be eager to see the improvements continue in the town centre.
“As a council, we are always looking at ways where we can support our communities and local businesses, and I believe that these government funded projects will deliver a big boost to the town centre, support the local economy, and renew pride in place.
“When combined with wider public realm improvements and Pride in Place projects, the regeneration works will create safer, more welcoming town centres that people want to visit and spend time in.”
