Phase One – Gibfield Meadows

Gibfield Meadows is the first phase of the Gibfield Park framework masterplan and includes proposals for up to 170 new homes, including 25% affordable homes. It also introduces a new green corridor between homes on Schofield Lane and Wigan Road and the future employment area.

Planting the green corridor at the same time as the new homes means the trees and landscaping will have several years to grow before the employment area, which will create new jobs, comes forward. This will help create a greener outlook, soften views and provide more space for wildlife from the outset.

The site forms part of Wigan's planned housing supply to help meet local housing needs and the proposals remain largely unchanged from those previously consulted on in March 2026. The main change following community feedback is the introduction of the green corridor and additional ecological and landscape enhancements along the southwestern edge of the site.

Bringing forward an outline planning application now supports the early delivery of new homes and landscape improvements, while consultation continues on the wider long-term framework masterplan for Gibfield Park.

Gibfield Meadows - Artist’s Impression

Gibfield Meadows is proposed as the first opportunity to bring new homes and landscape improvements forward at Gibfield Park and create a new neighbourhood connected into the existing area. It will include:

  • Up to 170 new homes, including up to 43 affordable homes to provide more opportunities for local people to access housing locally

  • A new community play area and public open space for existing and new residents to enjoy

  • A new green corridor, including buffers, to strengthen green space and provide additional planting and screening

  • Areas of surface water drainage designed to support sustainable development

  • Safe access for vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists from Gibfield Park Way

  • New planting and habitat improvements to support biodiversity

Affordable housing is proposed at 25% of the total homes, with a proposed tenure split of 75% affordable rent and 25% affordable home ownership, reflecting Wigan’s latest housing needs evidence.

Outline plans for Phase One, Gibfield Meadows depicted by the red line boundary (click to enlarge)

Key Considerations

Phase One has been shaped by a range of technical and environmental considerations to help ensure development responds to the site and surrounding area.

Heritage and character
The proposals respond to the site’s industrial and railway history, including protecting views towards the Grade II listed Ena Mill. Future design proposals could also include interpretation and wayfinding to help tell the story of the area’s heritage.

Ecology and biodiversity
Ecological surveys have informed the proposals, helping identify where habitats can be retained and enhanced. The scheme includes ecological buffers, new planting and opportunities to deliver biodiversity net gain, with habitat management secured for at least 30 years.

Flooding and drainage
The site is located within Flood Zone 1 and is considered to be at low risk of river flooding. Sustainable drainage features, such as swales and attenuation areas, are proposed to manage surface water and help reduce flood risk.

 Traffic and access
Gibfield Meadows would provide access from Gibfield Park Way and include safe routes for vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists, with improved connections into the proposed Country Park. Traffic, parking and wider movement impacts are being assessed as part of the outline planning application, and further details will be published as proposals progress.

Construction management
If proposals progress, a Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) would be agreed with Wigan Council before work begins. This would set out measures relating to traffic routes, working hours, noise, dust, site access and communication with local communities.

Once the consultation has concluded, all feedback will be reviewed and considered ahead of an outline planning application being submitted to Wigan Council, which is currently expected within the next three months. At that point, more information and detailed technical reports will be available.

Yes. Once the outline planning application has been submitted, Wigan Council will undertake its own statutory consultation as part of the planning process. There will be another opportunity to view the application and submit comments directly to the Council. More information will be made available on this website at the appropriate time.

Gibfield Meadows is being brought forward as an outline planning application. This means approval is being sought for the principle of locating up to 170 new homes on the site. The detailed design, including the layout, appearance, landscaping and the location of roads and homes within the site, would be considered later through a reserved matters application.

Phase One remains largely unchanged from the proposals previously consulted on, as most of the feedback received from the community related to the wider framework masterplan rather than Gibfield Meadows. However, following feedback received, land at the southwestern edge of the site adjacent to Schofield Lane and Wigan Road is now proposed as a new green corridor. Including this as part of the Phase One outline planning application allows it to be delivered early, giving the planting time to become established before future development comes forward.

Gibfield Meadows view

Feedback received during this consultation will help inform the outline planning application before it is submitted to Wigan Council in late summer 2026.

If approved, a future reserved matters application is currently expected in mid to late 2027 to provide more detailed proposals.

Construction is currently expected to begin from around 2028 and Gibfield Meadows is anticipated to take around five years to complete.

Keep up to date

If you would like to be kept up to date on the plans for Gibfield Park, please register your interest below:

  • The information you provide will be used by Turley Strategic Communications, on behalf of Peel Land, for the purposes of keeping you informed and for understanding public opinion on the project. It will be stored securely until completion of the project, after which this information will be deleted. Your information will only be shared with third parties for the express purpose of keeping you informed of the proposals, and with Peel Land and/or the relevant local authority where there is a legal obligation to do so. It will not be forwarded on to any other third parties. You can contact us at any time to request the deletion of your information. Please contact us at contact@gibfieldpark.co.uk