Here is what Wigan’s 1970s civic centre will look like in 2025
Developer Capital&Centric has released the latest CGIs depicting its vision for a 32,000 sq ft concrete workspace, to be delivered in partnership with the council.
Planning permission to transform the former civic centre was granted at the start of this year. The revitalisation of the space will see the 1970 exterior largely preserved, with the inside being stripped out and reconfigured. Demo work on the interior started at the beginning of 2024.
When the work finishes in the spring of next year, the rebranded Civic will hold a mini-cinema, gym, roof terrace, and coffee shop – alongside an array of workspaces designed by Shedkm. There would also be EV charging points, cycle storage, and gardens.
Landscape designs by Planit will see the project achieve a biodiversity net gain of more than 500%, according to the developer.
Key to the design was the retention of the concrete façade, according to Capital&Centric joint managing director John Moffat.
Moffat said: “Concrete 70s buildings like Civic really divide opinion and too often they’re flattened in favour of new build. But, with the mission to reach net zero emissions, overhauling existing buildings has to be the first choice.
“But we’re not relying on the carbon savings when compared to the alternative, we’re reducing the operating emissions by about 40% and packing the building with smart technology to further reduce energy consumption,” he continued.
Bolstering the landscape around the building forms a core part of Capital&Centric’s strategy for the project. Credit: via Font Comms
Moffat also spoke about Capital&Centric’s partnership with Wigan on the scheme, describing Civic as “a real set piece in Wigan’s wider regeneration story”.
He said: “Wigan Council are showing real ambition when it comes to sustainable regeneration that sets the tone for the town centre for years to come. Working together, we’re not only determined to create one of the most sustainable workspaces in Wigan, we also want to defy expectations and create a thing of beauty, with stunning spaces inside and stacks of lush planting along Millgate.
For the local authority’s part, director of place Aidan Thatcher said: “This redevelopment will bring this iconic building back to life and create a modern and sustainable workplace of choice in our town centre. This is an innovative project to restore an old building, give it a renewed purpose, and ensure it is fit for the future.”
Crookes Walker Consulting is the building services engineer for Civic, while Civic Engineers is the structural engineer.
You can find out more about the future of Civic by searching application reference number A/23/96412/FULL on Wigan Council’s planning portal.
Whilst I’m not particularly a fan of the existing brutalist building it’s fantastic to see the approach that’s been taken to redevelop this building (a far cry from the methods across the road in which the majority of the town centre was flattened with barely a 30 year shelf life to be completely replaced by buildings with near to no merit of their own).
By Anonymous
I love what C&C are doing elsewhere but this scheme looks abysmal. That building should have been demolished.
By Heritage Action
Upgraded from the 1970’s to the 1990’s…
By Anonymous
@June 12, 2024 at 2:03 pm
By Heritage Action
Or, as another idea, to strip the building down to a frame and reclad in contextual bric and terracotta.
Both saves on embodied energy and beautifies it.
By Rye
Wigan Council love to spend money don’t they.
The recently demolished Galleries just shows that they don’t give a damn about their local residents.
I believe that the Galleries could have been updated rather than being demolished. After all it really wasn’t that old.
As I have said on numerous occasions Wigan is a town and not a city.
And it seems that Wigan are only going to attract the younger demographic, with a bowling alley (there’s one already not far from the pier) a climbing attraction, a cinema (how long that will last as the one in Robin Park has shut down! And why do we need another hotel? Or is for use by immigrants as all the others seem to be. And if it’s not, WHO are you expecting to visit Wigan?? Especially as Liverpool and Manchester have far more to offer!!
And now,to top it all the council offices are going to get a face lift – farcical!!
I think everyone associated with the council and what’s going on in Wigan are walking around with rose tinted glasses – they obviously don’t see the drunks, homeless and general decay of what was once a town I loved shopping in and bringing my southern family and friends to.
I now take them anywhere else but Wigan!!
By Shelly Le Feuvre
It is an eyesore ,& will remain one on the outside .Horrid crumbling concrete.
A fortune will be spent of Wigan ratepayers money on the inside of a very unattractive building to put it politely. The life of the outside of the building will be greatly at odds with the said super rebuild of the inside.
Please put to a Wigan Ratepayers Vote.
By Anonymous
I actually quite like this
By Anonymous