Wigan lines up Haigh Hall revamp

A masterplan for the venue’s overhaul as an arts, culture and heritage destination of national significance is being consulted on as funding bids are prepared.

Over the course of two weekends this month, the second one starting on 21 May, the vestibule at Haigh Hall will be open to display a masterplan developed following initial consultation in autumn 2021.

In all, more than 750 people contributed to the exercise. The headline feature at this stage is that the hall will feature a collection of the works of Wigan artist Theodore Major worth £200m.

Wigan will bid for up to £20m from the government’s Levelling Up Fund in July to make the project a reality, a sum it is prepared to match-fund. The local authority missed out on the first round of Levelling Up Fund allocations last year.

The council has already committed £4m from its annul budget for external repair works to the hall, with listed building consent applied for earlier this year.

A bid for £4m will also be submitted to the National Lottery Heritage Fund this month for improvements to the parklands at the hall, a project the council will pay £2m towards. Proposals for this element include Plantation Gardens & Lodges, and historic cottages behind the walled gardens.

Cllr Chris Ready, cabinet member for leisure and culture at Wigan Council, said: “Haigh Hall belongs to the people of Wigan and since bringing the hall back under the council’s control, we are doing everything we can to protect the hall or future generations, which includes securing funding.”

The council gained control of Haigh Hall in summer 2021 after a High Court battle with its former owner, a hotel operator.

Wigan is seeking Lottery support to overhaul the park at Haigh Hall. Credit: Wigan Council