Wigan Pier bids invited

Bids are now being invited to bring three buildings at the iconic Wigan Pier back into use.Wigan Council has unveiled a six-week tender period for bids to be made to develop the three former industrial buildings. The properties involved are the Warehouse, known locally as the former Way We Were Museum, The Orwell former pub, and the Education Centre.The council reported that there has been significant interest from developers in the buildings, which stand next to Wigan Pier on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal in the year that marks the 80th anniversary of the publication of George Orwell’s The Road to Wigan Pier.The Wigan Pier Quarter has recently been boosted by the development of the Pier Centre conference centre and performance venue, planning permission for a social, arts and café venue in a former industrial building next to the pier, and the attractiveness of Trencherfield Mill to major employers.The tender process is being overseen by the council in partnership with commercial property agents Lambert Smith Hampton and the Canal & River Trust.The window for bids to be made will close on Friday, 23 June 2017.