A £135 million regeneration masterplan to transform Wigan town centre has been approved by the Council’s planning committee.
As part of what is the wider re-development project for the former Galleries shopping centre – which is just off Market Street in Wigan town centre – the planning committee at Wigan Council has this week also approved developers’ ambitious plans for a 84,000 sq ft Multi Media Centre (MMC) and leisure facility to help further transform the site.
The newly-approved revamp will include a brand-new six screen, 700-seat cinema, a multi-lane bowling alley, indoor mini golf, and a climbing wall, alongside a “wide range” of other indoor leisure activities, as well as a public events space, and a games arcade.
CGIs from the the wider Galleries redevelopment / Credit: Cityheart
Several new bar and restaurant establishments also form part of the plans, with the hopes of making Wigan “a night out destination”, according to local Councillor Laura Flynn.
Developers Cityheart have hailed the Council‘s approval of the plans as the chance to turn Wigan into a “thriving mixed-use town centre neighbourhood” where residents and visitors can “spend time relaxing with family and friends”.
ADVERTISEMENT
CGIs from the the wider Galleries redevelopment / Credit: Cityheart
Alongside the newly-approved MMC is, of course, the multi-phase investment and development programme of the wider Galleries site – which is, according to Wigan Council, is aiming to deliver one of the UK’s “most innovative low carbon regeneration projects” and “transform” the town centre in several ways.
The development will comprise of almost 500 homes across seven new residential buildings, a 144-bedroom hotel, a new market hall and food court, as well as new landscaped areas of public space – including a square for events and performances.
ADVERTISEMENT
CGIs from the the wider Galleries redevelopment / Credit: Cityheart
“The MMC will help boost the local economy by drawing people into the town centre from across the region and will attract people of all ages who want to live in the town centre,” Warren Taylor, Development Director at Cityheart, commented on the approval of the masterplan.
“Providing great leisure facilities will in turn help us secure the best operators and food and drink brands and we look forward to starting to announce some of those additional tenants later this year.
Fantastic news yesterday afternoon as detailed plans for a new multi-function cinema and leisure centre located in the Galleries re-development site in Wigan town centre were approved by Wigan Council’s planning committee.
“Alongside the new market hall and food courts, people will be able to spend their leisure time at the MMC watching the latest films and enjoying bowling, climbing, gaming and eating and drinking in a range of new bars and restaurants.
ADVERTISEMENT
“We’re excited to achieve the next stage of delivering this transformational scheme for Wigan.”
The Galleries redevelopment scheme is set to create around 660 full-time jobs once it’s finally completed.
No timeframes or project completion date has been set out so far.
Featured Image – Cityheart / Wigan Council
News
Deliveroo is set for a multi-billion dollar buyout from a takeaway rival
Danny Jones
UK takeaway service Deliveroo is set for a massive takeover by a fellow delivery business rival, said to be worth several billion.
The British multinational is known nationwide, occupying one of the biggest market shares alongside competitors Just Eat and Uber Eats, but now the takeaway delivery service is set to be swallowed up by an even bigger brand based in the US.
As reported on Tuesday, 6 May, American delivery firm DoorDash – the biggest of its kind in the States – looks set to complete an estimated £2.9 billion buyout, which will see Deliveroo folded into their growing global portfolio.
This massive deal will see the company’s presence in more than 40 countries further consolidated, already serving somewhere in the region of 50 million customers every month.
US meal delivery firm DoorDash will buy British rival Deliveroo for $3.85 billion. The acquisition will help DoorDash grow its market share in Europe and compete against Just Eat and Uber Eats. Read more: https://t.co/x4dSgRp8Flpic.twitter.com/oeE44CjMYN
According to the likes of Reuters, Bloomberg and BBC, DoorDash is offering 180p per share, which is a 44% increase on Deliveroo’s share price from the point when initial takeover talks were made public in April 2025.
Founded by chief executive Will Shu back in 2013, Deliveroo is now considered one of the big three in the food delivery industry’s UK scene, but is set to get much bigger under the DoorDash umbrella.
As for DoorDash, CEO and co-founder Tony Xu went on to add: “Coming together with teams that have similar visions and values accelerates our work to achieve that mission. Deliveroo is just such a team and one that I have long admired.
“Like DoorDash, Deliveroo is obsessively focused on their customers – consumers, merchants, and riders. They work day in and day out to improve their consumer value proposition, bring new services to local businesses, and offer flexibility and support to riders.”
Two ‘quick-thinking’ GMP officers praised for saving baby’s life after suffering epileptic seizure
Emily Sergeant
Two ‘quick-thinking’ police officers have been praised for saving baby’s life after they suffering epileptic seizure.
After PCs Harry Moore and Alexandra Higginson were called to reports of a concern for welfare at an address in the Gorton area of Manchester, they managed to save the life of an eight-month-old baby who had suffered a seizure.
“When we entered the street, the baby’s father was already running towards us with the baby in his arms,” explained PC Moore.
“The baby was unconscious at the time with a very irregular breathing pattern, so I immediately took the child from the father and started performing CPR. Whilst performing CPR, I had to give the recovery breaths into the baby’s nose because he had a locked jaw, which I now realise was because of the seizure.”
The ambulance came roughly five minutes after police arrived on the scene.
Quick-thinking officers saved a baby’s life after an eight-month-old suffered an epileptic seizure.
PCs Harry Moore and Alexandra Higginson recently saved the life of an eight-month-old baby who had suffered a seizure.
— Greater Manchester Police (@gmpolice) May 3, 2025
After paramedics arrived, they took the baby into the ambulance, where he then proceeded had another seizure, but not long after, he started crying loudly which meant he was back to breathing again.
“I told the father, who was just outside the ambulance at the time, and he was so relieved and gave me a hug,” PC Moore continued. “This is a moment I will never forget.”
PC Moore also praised his colleague PC Higginson, adding: “I can’t state enough how much of a team effort this job was. My colleague did an absolutely fantastic job of passing important information along as appropriate and we worked together as a team.
“Alex travelled to hospital in the ambulance with the mother and baby and I followed separately. Alex constantly relayed vital information and got the details of all parties involved, which was really helpful.
“We hope the baby and family they are all doing well and that the baby is happy and recovering.”
Emily Sergeant -
13th July 2023 
