Wigan's High Street Heritage Action Zone (HAZ) focuses on King Street within the town centre conservation area.
King Street sits towards the southern part of the conservation area and is one of the main streets in Wigan town centre, close to the Market Place and between the rail stations and the civic hub. It’s traditionally been a focal point for entertainment and commercial uses rather than retail.
Why King street?
In recent times, its character has shifted to focus almost exclusively on late-night bars and nightclubs, and it’s now in a cycle of decline. There are very high vacancy rates, the quality of the streetscape is poor and fractured, and the historic fabric is under threat.
By reusing and reviving beautiful historic buildings such as the Grade II listed Royal Court Theatre, Wigan Council plan to work with partners like Arts in the Mill CIC to engage locals and visitors in a rich array of cultural activity and restore King Street to the heart of Wigan’s leisure economy.
Our Vision
Our aim, using the £13m of government funding delivered through Historic England, is that by 2024, King Street will be celebrated as the go-to place for residents and visitors to engage in cultural and leisure activities.
This aligns well with our Cultural Manifesto, The Fire Within (external link), which aims to tackle Wigan's low cultural participation.
The mix of uses will mean that King Street has something for everyone during both the daytime and evening. Its strong sense of place will be reinforced through the reuse of its beautiful historic buildings, attractive streetscape and network of characterful alleyways.
Share your views
We're actively seeking the opinions, ideas and support of the King Street community from business owners, landlords, tenants and day-to-day users.