Going up in the World: High-rise Flats Become a Village

Artist’s impression of the new enclosed grounds for the Scholes flats, and (inset) the current view of the flats.

There’s a new name on Wigan’s housing map this week. Tenants of the town’s seven multi-storey blocks have chosen Scholes Village as the new identity for their area, following the start of work on an ambitious makeover.

The £2m scheme is set to transform the grounds surrounding the flats, creating extra parking for residents and more attractive landscaping. The area will be made safer as well, thanks to better lighting, boundary walls and railings.

All 900 residents of the high-rise flats have been consulted about the plans, which include:

• Redesigned parking areas with new surfacing and extra spaces.
• Attractive boundary walls and railings enclosing the site, and electronically controlled gates providing secure parking and access for residents of the flats only. This will be linked into the 24-hour concierge service for the site.
• New footpaths and pavements around the buildings to create better pedestrian access — particularly for people with mobility problems.
• Attractive new lighting columns.
• Communal garden areas aimed at bringing the community together. The plan also includes improvements to existing landscaping and enhanced tree planting.

Peter Gee, Chief Executive of Wigan and Leigh Housing, said:

“Being so close to the town centre, the multi-storey flats have always been a very popular place to live, and in recent years a lot of money has been spent on the buildings.

“We now want to make the wider area more secure and attractive for residents by improving the external environment of the flats. We have listened closely to what residents said was needed and have hopefully come up with some exciting plans that will improve this important gateway into Wigan.

“Creating a new identity for the area is an important part of project and the residents have selected the name ‘Scholes Village’. We’ll be advertising this with key features that display the new site name and also the names of each block of flats.”

Wigan and Leigh Housing, who manage the council’s 25,000 homes, are paying for the project, and Groundwork Wigan and Chorley will design and manage the project with help from Wigan Council.

The work will be carried out in four stages, with phase 1 of the project, including improvements around Brook House and Woodcock House, starting later this month. The whole scheme should be complete within twelve months.

Note to Editors

• More information from Peter Gee, Chief Executive, Wigan and Leigh Housing, 01942 827400.