One of Wigan’s most historic landmarks will receive a £20 million rejuvenation, it has been confirmed. Haigh Hall has been chosen to be awarded funding from the Government Levelling Up department’s £594 million prize pot to restore local heritage sites.
Wigan Council will use the funding to restore the Grade II listed building and its surroundings to their ‘former glory’. They hope it will make the site a popular destination for culture, community, events and hospitality once more.
The hall, which was built around 1840, stands as an iconic building amid the picturesque surroundings of Haigh Woodland Park.
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In recent years it has played a role on the small screen, popping up as a location in popular Sky comedy-drama Brassic. According to the Wigan Council plans, a new world class dining experience, an underground bunker cinema, an art gallery for ‘Theodore Major’s visionary work’, and a rooftop terrace for astronomy are all set to become a reality.
In addition to the ‘five floor masterplan’ to restore the hall itself, the derelict gateway lodges are set for a revamp as well.
With the cinema room being used for special exhibitions and a children's matinee on weekends, it is unlikely to be showing all the latest blockbusters. However, it will be part of a multi-platform experience provided by Haigh Hall.
A derelict zoo on School Lane, just off the main complex, would also be transformed into a new visitors attraction and learning centre. The new ‘multi purpose garden pavilion’ and education and training hubs will provide more activity space.
The former zoo on School Lane closed in the 1990’s and has been left vacant ever since.
This £20 million comes with a pledge of £11.5 million of match funding from Wigan Council's budget as well as a separate bid of £4 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
A total of 111 areas have been awarded funding from the second of the government’s flagship Levelling Up Fund, providing greater investment in communities that will create new jobs, drive economic growth, help restore people’s pride in the places where they live, and spread opportunity more equally. Secretaries of State will be visiting winning projects across the UK to see how local leaders will deliver.
Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said: “We are firing the starting gun on more than a hundred transformational projects in every corner of the UK that will revitalise communities that have historically been overlooked but are bursting with potential. This new funding will create jobs, drive economic growth, and help to restore local pride.
“We are delivering on the people’s priorities, levelling up across the UK to ensure that no matter where you are from, you can go as far as your talents will take you.”
Back in August, Wigan Council also put forward bids for Wigan, Leigh and Ashton town centres, with the hope of securing funding from the government to transform each area. However, these bids have not been successful this time around.
The Government has also confirmed there will be a further round of the Levelling Up Fund, providing more opportunity to level up places across the UK.
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