Wigan Council has appointed Tilbury Douglas Construction to help take forward the next phase of the restoration of Haigh Hall and its grounds, marking a step forward in the £50m project.
The national building firm, which has an office in Wigan, will work alongside the council and its specialist design team through the pre-construction phase. This will involve developing detailed plans for the internal restoration of the Grade II listed Hall, along with associated landscaping, car park improvements, and a new energy centre.
Pre-construction collaboration
A spokesperson for Wigan Council said: “This important stage will see the project team work collaboratively to develop the design and programme, undertake further surveys and planning, and carefully consider the construction approach for the historic building ahead of the main restoration works.”
The renovation will create a ‘mixed-use cultural venue’ including a new rooftop bar. The work will also create art galleries, an education suite, event spaces, a restaurant and café, retail space, and office and 10 bedrooms, which will be used to support future use as a wedding venue.
Rooftop bar and courtyard kitchen
Work will include a rooftop extension to form a bar and infill of the ground floor inner courtyard to create a kitchen. Changes to the wider outdoor area across the hall’s grounds and the 250-acre Haigh woodland park include an area for an external marquee to host wedding celebrations and events, an energy centre, car parking, along with new access roads, pedestrian walkways, and external lighting.
The project is backed by a combination of public funds and grants. £20m has been awarded from the central government’s levelling up fund, with more than £25m in capital investment committed directly from Wigan Council’s budget.
Glasshouse taking shape
An additional £5.5m comes from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, which specifically targets the estate’s outdoor features like the Bothy Yard, ornamental pond, and walled gardens.
In recent weeks, work has seen the new glasshouse beginning to take shape. Built on the foundations of the historic old glasshouse in the Bothy Yard, the new build is set to be a volunteer, education and events space located in Haigh’s kitchen gardens. It will also have hot and cold sections for growing a variety of fruit and plants.
