Wigan pulls land for 5m sq ft of employment space from local plan
Summary
Wigan Council has decided not to allocate four Green Belt sites for employment development in its refreshed local plan, removing potential capacity for around 5 million sq ft of industrial and logistics space. The council says it still has sufficient employment land overall, but acknowledges a gap in the range of site types available, and it has also formally opposed Peel Land’s Gibfield Park masterplan despite the site’s allocation in the wider strategic plan.
Why it matters
This is relevant to residential property surveyors because local plan decisions, Green Belt release, and major employment schemes can affect land values, settlement patterns, infrastructure pressure and the planning context for nearby housing sites. The council’s stance on Gibfield Park also highlights how community objections and local plan policy can influence mixed-use and residential-led proposals.
Key points
- Wigan Council will not allocate four Green Belt sites for employment uses in its refreshed local plan.
- The sites together could have delivered about 5m sq ft of employment space.
- The council says it still meets its overall employment land requirement, but there is a qualitative gap in site types.
- Wigan has formally objected to Peel Land’s Gibfield Park masterplan, calling it unacceptable in its current form.
- A separate Peel site south of Hindley remains in the plan, but the council wants a funded and programmed link road before homes are occupied.
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