Green Light for Retail Park

The council’s planning committee approved the scheme in May and developers

expect the park to be fully operational by autumn next year.

A spokesman

for Salmon Harvester also revealed that the project would be unaffected by the

Government’s recent spending cuts because funding is coming entirely from

private sources.

The Barlo development, opposite the Spinning Gate

Shopping Centre, will also open access to the Bridgewater Canal for public use.

With the site close to the town centre, the developers say the complex will

help draw shoppers and visitors to the town and diversify Leigh’s night time

economy.

A massive industrial, retail and

housing scheme will be built on land to the north of former Parsonage

Colliery.

The 24-acre project - approved by development councillors   - is expected to create up to 1,500 jobs.

The first phase which will

see a new traffic junction and development of all the former mine land east of

the existing Sainsbury’s supermarket at the heart of Parsonage Retail Park for

retail, commercial and a medical centre. Phase two will involve land between

Parsonage Way, Marsh Playing Fields and Westleigh after a link road has been

built across the former tip site from Wigan Road to the new

junction.