BCEGI, Cityheart picked for Galleries revamp 

Wigan Council has appointed a joint venture between the firms to redevelop the town centre retail complex, beating off competition from Muse Developments, and Urban Splash with Maple Grove Developments for the £125m project.

Beijing Construction Engineering Group International and Cityheart are to deliver a scheme comprising a wide mix of uses within the 440,000 sq ft shopping centre and reducing the total amount of retail space. 

Options tabled include the addition of a hotel, residential, leisure, education or healthcare element, or flexible work spaces, as well as a cinema or bowling alley.   

The appointment marks another success for Chester-based developer Cityheart, which was picked to deliver the residential element of the £120m Stockport Interchange in February, alongside Rise Homes. 

BCEGI, the Chinese-owned construction and engineering company, is delivering a £250m overhaul of Crompton Place Shopping Centre with Midia in Bolton. 

A spokesperson for Wigan Council said: “A preferred bidder has been selected for the redevelopment of The Galleries. Until the contract standstill period has ended, we are unable to comment any further.

“Further details of the development proposal will be provided in due course.”

The council bought the Galleries Shopping Centre from Luxembourg-based firm Colcastor in March 2018.  

BCEGI and Cityheart have been contacted for comment. 

In February, Place North West revealed the four-name shortlist for the project, which also included Queensberry Properties. 

Queensberry dropped out of the race earlier this year reporting that its ideas for the project did not align with those of Wigan Council. 

Muse Developments, part of the consortium delivering the New Bailey mixed-use scheme in Salford, was also shortlisted. The firm has extensive experience in town centre regeneration, including projects in Warrington and Blackpool.

After joining forces to bid for the Wigan Galleries project, Urban Splash and Maple Grove Developments also missed out.

Elsewhere in the region, Maple Grove, part of Eric Wright Group, is working with Muse to revamp Preston Markets, while Urban Splash has teamed up with Peel L&P in a bid to deliver the £1.5bn ID Manchester scheme, for the University of Manchester.