Cotton Works Wigan: First New-Build Block of 179 Flats Approved 2026

Key Points

• Wigan Council has given the green light for the development of a six-storey block consisting of 179 one- and two-bedroom apartments at Cotton Works development located in the former Eckersley Mill complex.
• The development will be the first new-build phase of the regeneration project by Heaton Group of the Grade II listed Eckersley Mill site near Wigan Pier.
• The application was made in 2024 as A/24/98324/RMMAJ.
• The Cotton Works development has been given £14 million from Greater Manchester’s Good Growth Fund for the residential elements, along with £9.9 million for commercial, office, leisure and healthcare use.
• The new development is part of a broader masterplan for five new-build blocks and around 950 residential units at the site.
• Horizon Fletcher Rae is the architect and Paul Butler Associates is the planning consultant.
• The masterplan also consists of conversion of two historic mills, offices, food hall, hotel and leisure uses.
• The site is considered the biggest brownfield site in the North West region that is single owned.

Wigan (Manchester Mirror) October 30, 2026 — It has granted planning consent for the first new-build residential phase at the £180 million Cotton Works regeneration scheme, clearing the way for a six-storey apartment block containing 179 homes on the former Eckersley Mill complex. As reported by Dan Whelan of Place North West, the application was lodged by Wigan-based developer Heaton Group in 2024 and covers 179 flats in a single six-storey building.

The approval concerns Block A, an L-shaped apartment building designed to provide 179 one- and two-bedroom apartments, together with cycle and refuse storage at ground level. As reported by Wigan Today, the block is intended to sit between Mills 1 and 3 and is described in planning documents as a key element of the wider Cotton Works masterplan.

The decision adds to earlier consents at the site. Plans for Mill 3’s conversion into 137 apartments were approved in June 2023, while Mill 1 is being redeveloped for offices, a food hall, a microbrewery and rooftop facilities.

How many homes are planned at Cotton Works?

The newly approved block is one of five planned new-build buildings at Cotton Works. Together, those blocks are expected to deliver around 950 homes, according to Place North West.

The broader masterplan previously set out proposals for 817 new-build homes across five blocks, which, when combined with the 137-apartment conversion of Mill 3, would bring the total number of homes on the site to 954. As reported by Sophie Rennie of Place North West, those homes were proposed as 505 one-bedroom, 280 two-bedroom and 32 three-bedroom homes, including 121 later-living residences.

The approved 179-apartment block therefore represents the first detailed new-build phase within that wider residential programme. The planning application was for reserved matters, meaning it followed the principle of development already established through the wider hybrid planning permission for the site.

Where is the Cotton Works development located?

Cotton Works is located at the former Eckersley Mill complex on Swan Meadow Road, close to Wigan Pier and on the edge of Wigan town centre. The site comprises Grade II-listed mills built between 1883 and 1920 and lies within the Wigan Pier Conservation Area.

Wigan Council describes Eckersley Mill as the largest brownfield site in the North West under single ownership. The council says the masterplan is intended to create a new urban neighbourhood where people can live, work, shop, eat and drink.

The location is also central to the scheme’s transport case. Place North West reports that the complex is less than a 10-minute walk from Wigan’s two railway stations.

What funding supports the Cotton Works scheme?

The residential phase has been allocated £14 million from Greater Manchester’s Good Growth Fund. Greater Manchester Combined Authority says the funding supports the redevelopment of the Grade II-listed Eckersley Mill complex at Wigan Pier, including the construction of almost 180 new homes.

A separate £9.9 million allocation is intended to deliver 93,500 square feet of commercial, office, leisure and healthcare space at Cotton Works. The Greater Manchester Combined Authority expects that part of the scheme to create around 670 new jobs.

The funding formed part of the first wave of investment approved by Greater Manchester leaders under the Good Growth Fund programme. The authority said the first wave covered 17 priority schemes across the city region, with investment beginning in 2026.

Who is delivering the Cotton Works project?

Heaton Group, a Wigan-based regeneration specialist, is the developer behind Cotton Works. The company has been progressing the redevelopment of the former mill complex through a phased masterplan.

Horizon Fletcher Rae is the architect for the approved apartment block, while Paul Butler Associates acts as planning consultant. Place North West identifies both firms in its report on the approval.

The project team’s planning documents, submitted through Paul Butler Associates, described the site as a highly sustainable location for new development and said the scheme would make efficient use of underused brownfield land close to Wigan town centre.

What else is planned at the former Eckersley Mill?

The Cotton Works masterplan extends beyond new apartments. It includes the conversion of two former mills: one into flats and another into an office and hospitality complex, as well as a hotel.

Wigan Council says the ground floor of the converted mill will become a food hall with individual stalls and a microbrewery. The upper three floors are intended for offices, including Heaton Group’s headquarters, while a rooftop expansion is planned for flexible work, meeting and community-event space.

The council says the office element will create close to 80,000 square feet of office space and around 400 jobs. The wider proposals have also included a 120-bedroom hotel, leisure facilities and commercial units.

What has already been delivered at Cotton Works?

Mill 1 has already been transformed as the first phase of the wider regeneration. Architect Fletcher Rae says the Grade II-listed mill was completed in mid-2025 and now includes a public house, open-plan office space and a rooftop bar.

The architect also states that a permanent food hall is set to open in 2026, with five independent stalls and seating for more than 300 guests. It says the office space has attracted tenants including Heaton Group, Calisen and Greater Manchester Police.

Wigan Council had previously granted temporary permission for “Feast at the Mills”, a temporary food and drink use in former boiler-house structures, including stalls, live music, tables and seating. The council’s planning record shows that permission was considered at a committee meeting on March 12, 2024.

Why does the approval matter for Wigan?

The approval allows Heaton Group to advance the first purpose-built residential block within a regeneration scheme intended to bring new homes, employment space and leisure uses to a long-underused industrial site. The council has described Cotton Works as a project to create a new neighbourhood in Wigan.

The development also aligns with Greater Manchester’s stated policy emphasis on brownfield regeneration. The BBC reported that nine out of 10 Greater Manchester councils backed the Places for Everyone strategy, which prioritises development on brownfield land rather than green spaces.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said, as reported by the BBC, that obtaining full planning permission for the large brownfield area was “not merely about reclaiming land”, but about unlocking housing, employment opportunities and economic advancement.

Background of the Cotton Works development

Eckersley Mill is a historic cotton mill complex in Wigan, with buildings dating from 1883 to 1920. The site is Grade II listed and forms part of the Wigan Pier Conservation Area.

Heaton Group unveiled its £180 million masterplan for the 17-acre site in 2023. The proposals included 817 new-build homes, a 120-bedroom hotel, offices, a food hall, restaurants, a gym, a roller rink and commercial units.

Planning permission for the wider residential scheme was reported by the BBC in January 2025. The broadcaster described the project as a £250 million scheme expected to create more than 800 residences and said it would be delivered in phases over about five years.

Heaton Group managing director John Heaton said the company was proud of its heritage and privileged to restore significant cultural landmarks while integrating them into the 21st century. He also said hundreds of tradespeople were already employed on the initiative and that numbers were expected to rise as later phases progressed.

Prediction: How will this affect Wigan residents and investors?

For Wigan residents, the approval is likely to increase the supply of town-centre apartments close to Wigan Pier and the borough’s railway stations. If the wider programme proceeds as planned, the site could eventually provide about 950 homes, adding to local housing options while reusing brownfield land.

For local workers and businesses, the wider scheme could support employment through construction, offices, hospitality and leisure. Greater Manchester Combined Authority has linked the commercial element of Cotton Works to around 670 expected jobs, while Wigan Council has separately associated the office conversion with around 400 jobs.

For property investors and prospective renters, the consent may signal further residential delivery at Cotton Works, although the pace of construction, sales, lettings and later planning approvals will determine the practical effect on the local market. The approval covers one block of 179 apartments; the remaining new-build phases will still need to be delivered in line with the wider masterplan.