UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF)

Wigan Council will receive just over £3m over three years through the UKSPF Communities and Place investment priority. The fund aims to generate pride in place in our local communities by making visible improvements in district town centres, enriching local greenspaces, and providing high quality cultural events to increase footfall.

‘Local Business’ and ‘People and Skills’ themes will follow in subsequent years.

Community and Place Projects

Our Town 3 and 4 (£700,000)

This project builds on the Our Town programme developed in 2019 to deliver environmental improvements and enhance the look of district town centres across Wigan Borough for residents, visitors, and businesses.

This additional funding will enhance this scheme, visiting every district centre across our borough delivering environmental improvements to improve public realm and boost civic pride. 

Railway Road, Leigh Conservation (£10,000)

This project will deliver the match funding required against a successful funding bid which secured Historic England funding for a Conservation Regeneration Plan for at-risk or vulnerable Conservation Areas in Wigan Borough.

This will be focussed on Railway Road Conservation Area in Leigh. A consultation asking residents to have their say will support the creation of a masterplan for this area.

• View the Leigh Railway Conservation Area Regeneration Plan.

King Street Heritage scheme (£100,000)

This project comprises a mix of capital and revenue funding to support the establishment of the legacy Community Interest Company (CIC) to continue the momentum of the HAZ (Heritage Action Zone) programme.

Capital funding will fit out a premises (25 King St) for use as an office base on the street and support projects on the street that will continue the momentum of the Action Zone. Revenue funding will provide capacity building roles and operational management support to the CIC.

Regeneration Capacity Fund (£400,000)

A regeneration capacity fund will support developing a pipeline of regeneration projects, including feasibility studies and business case development.

This will assist with de-risking of development opportunities, preparation of funding bids and act as match funding.

Leigh Town Centre Improvements (£1,500,000)

Building on the Strategic Regeneration Framework for Leigh this funding will help revitalise the high street through a number of schemes, including:

• Leigh Market: A feasibility survey will be conducted to assess how the market might be improved.
• Leigh Civic Square: Enhance the public realm at Civic Square, making it more attractive and accessible.
• Leigh Hospitality Kick-Start: A series of temporary and pop-ups/events in the town centre will support existing hospitality businesses and attract new operators to strengthen this sector in Leigh.
• Leigh Access and Circulation Study: A review of how accessible the town centre is, looking at car parks and other modes of transport to ensure Leigh is accessible.
• Shop Front and Building Improvement Scheme: Enabling and encouraging businesses and building owners to refurbish and enhance poor quality shopfronts and under-utilised premises.

Tyldesley High Street Heritage scheme (£100,000) 

Tyldesley’s Heritage Action Zone has made a big difference to the high street, bringing beautiful buildings back to life. This investment will build on For Tyldesley’s (external link) work and will include a traditional shop front scheme, a new greenspaces and pocket parks project and complementary programme of community engagement, events, and cultural activity.

One of the recent projects included Wendy’s – a derelict retail unit which has been transformed and brought back to life, helping to improve the character of the town centre.

The Early Doors Club (£175,000)

The Early Doors Club is a programme of creative and exciting cultural activities designed to support the local nighttime economy, in partnership with four venues in Atherton, Tyldesley, Wigan and Leigh.

A series of events showcasing our musical talent and art and culture will help attract new visitors to Wigan Borough.

Pennington Flash Nature Reserve Wetlands (£23,294)

To support the creation of a regional nature-based visitor destination, the funding will support the second phase of development at Pennington Flash Nature Reserve, building on the recent adventure play and coffee shop opening to expand the offer and quality of the reserve.

Approved allocated funding projects in 22/23

• Our Town 3, £450,000
• Creative Activations, £175,000
• For Tyldesley CIC, £100,000
• Conservation Area, £10,000
• King Street Heritage, £100,000
• Regeneration Capacity Fund, £200,000
• Pennington Wetlands, £15,000
• Total, £1,050,000.

Remaining USKPF project spend in 23/24 and 24/25

• Leigh Strategic Regeneration Framework Implementation, £1,500,000
• Our Town 4 (24/25), £250,000
• Regeneration Capacity Fund, £200,000
• Pennington Wetland Feasibility Fund, £8,294
• Total, £1,958,294.