The town's multi-million-pound shopping centre will compete with a record 47 schemes on the shortlist for one of the North West's most prestigious property awards.

The 2008 Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) North West Awards received more entries than any other region in the UK.

The Grand Arcade shopping centre has been shortlisted under both the commercial and sustainability categories, in a year which the North West also received more entrants than ever before.

The shopping venue, in the heart of Wigan's town centre, is a carbon-neutral building built with sustainability in mind.

Developers Modus plan to introduce a wind turbine, solar panels and green roofing to the centre in the near future.

All 47 North West schemes will compete at a gala dinner to be held at Liverpool's Arena and Convention Centre (ACC).

The event will be hosted by newsreader Peter Sissons on May 16.
The shortlisted schemes will compete in the following categories: building conservation, regeneration, sustainability, community benefit, commercial, residential, design and innovation, tourism and leisure, and project of the year.

The RICS awards have been developed to recognise the best new projects in the built and natural environment.

They celebrate every aspect of rural and urban regeneration and reward those organisations and individuals developing and conserving the environment.

The organisation developed the awards to promote best practice and highlight some of the most innovative and environmentally sensitive projects.

Winners from each category of the nine RICS England regions, RICS Wales, RICS Scotland, RICS Northern Ireland and RICS international heats will go to a national final to be held at the Dorchester in London in October.

Jennifer Welch, operations director of RICS North, said: "This year the North West produced more entries than any other region nationally. From city centre offices to rural regeneration – the North West is alive with exciting developments."

The Grand Arcade, which celebrated its first birthday at the weekend, has already won a clutch of awards for its design and eco-friendly properties.