Former Wigan pub set for new lease of life under new plans

Plans to transform a former pub into an exciting new community hub could soon be put into motion after planning permission was submitted to the council.

A planning application has been sent to the town hall to convert the former Vale Royal into a mixed use development, including retail space, a cafe and dance studios.

If approved, the existing building will be converted and extended, and there will also be a new building constructed to house the fitness facilities.

The developers also revealed hopes for the former pub and carvery restaurant to become a huge community asset, providing support for the nearby St John Rigby College and work experience opportunities for its students.

A planning statement submitted as part of the documents said: “Currently the Vale Royal pub is a derelict building which has stood empty for the past 15 months and is falling into a state of disrepair with no rental interest from any potential tenants to reuse the building as a pub or restaurant.

“The proposal also involves additional extensions to the rear of the public house as part of its refurbishment and the erection of a free-standing building which will be used as a dance studio.”

It added: “The creation of a ‘hub’ of business uses ... will enable the building to create a significant number of different jobs, and bring back business rates to the council.”

The development is aimed at “creating a community asset which will improve social inclusion across all age groups in the community.

“This will be done by improving “educational and sporting/recreational links with the college, which will allow them to lease the dance studio facilities, freeing up valuable space on their campus and enabling them to meet the increasing demand of students, which they currently estimate is for around an extra 150 students.”

Full details of the plans can be viewed at planning.wigan.gov.uk using the reference A/20/88857/CU