More homes planned for ex-Wigan Council site

Hindle Property Investments Ltd has been given the green light by Wigan council to convert Gateway House in Standishgate into eight apartments.

This is the first of a “two-part strategy” for the site, according to director Dan Anders, with 13 new houses planned in the second phase of development.

Anders said plans for the new houses are “being worked up as we speak”.

It comes after a scheme to demolish the building to make way for an assisted living complex for elderly residents living with dementia was approved in 2018.

However, Hilldale Housing Association never implemented the plan and the property, which has been sold by the council, is no longer on its development portfolio.

The four-storey structure, which was the home to Wigan council’s education department until 2012, is now set to be refurbished and turned into eight flats. The eight apartments will all have two bedrooms, with two flats on each floor.

Eight parking bays will be created at the front of the building with secure bicycle storage for five bicycles inside the building and an external bin area.

Every habitable room has at least one window for natural light and ventilation. The building is located off Standishgate and Worsley Terrace within Wigan town centre and is enclosed by surrounding commercial and residential uses.

Despite its central location, no conditions to mitigate noise were included.

Environmental Health officers have been consulted as part of the application and have not recommended adding any condition relating to noise control or mitigation, according to a council report.

The report added: “It is apparent that noise issues could arise from surrounding commercial uses, however, as the proposal includes new residential units, a requirement under building regulations would be to sound test the units prior to them being first occupied.

“A condition could be included to request measures to protect residents from the potential adverse noise, however the proposal is within a town centre, where ambient noise is to be expected. On balance it is considered that there is potential for residential units to be provided within the existing building.

“Given the aforementioned factors, a condition to mitigate against noise is not considered in this case.”

Prior approval for the conversion of the office building into the apartments, which is permitted development, was granted by Wigan Council earlier this month.

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