On the 24th October 2023, Wigan Council launched an ‘Option and Preferences’ consultation, which has been informed by the feedback received by the Council during the initial ‘Issues and Opportunities’ consultation of autumn 2022. A report of the ‘Options and Preferences’ consultation summarising the issues raised at consultation has recently been published in April 2025.

As of current, the council is consulting on the Initial Draft of the Wigan Borough Local Plan, with the consultation period spanning between 20th April to 24th June 2025. 

The preparation of the Initial Draft Local Plan has been informed by robust evidence as well as the feedback from community and stakeholder consultations that were undertaken in the ‘Issues and Opportunities’ and ‘Options and Preferences’ consultation stages. The Initial Draft Local Plan sets out key strategic objectives to facilitate delivery of the council’s vision to 2039. This includes:

• Delivering sufficient homes of the right type to meet the needs of communities and supporting the delivery of 16,537 new homes by 2039;
• Raising the economic profile of the borough by creating an environment within which new and existing businesses can grow and prosper;
• Regenerating and improving the town centres;
• Delivering a more sustainable and accessible transport system;
• Help make towns and neighbourhoods flourish for those who live and work in them;
• Protecting, enhancing and restoring the unique natural environment;
• Ensuring that development mitigates and adapts to climate change; and
• Improving the health and wellbeing of residents and local communities. 

This is a key opportunity for you to get involved and to influence what is in the Local Plan by providing comments on the Initial Draft Local Plan. The consultation is open until 11.59pm on Tuesday 24th June 2025 and LSH would be more than happy to assist you with this process.

Our team of specialist planners can help by drafting a comprehensive response to the Initial Draft Local Plan. We can also provide a thorough review of the Initial Draft Local Plan and assess whether Wigan’s proposed visions and objectives align with your needs. 

For more information on how you can navigate the Local plan review, please get in touch with a member of our team below.

Paul Shuker
Director - Head of Planning Consultancy (North West)
07769 727 394
PShuker@lsh.co.uk

Richard Moffat
Director - Planning Consultancy
07711 929 658
RMoffat@lsh.co.uk

Chris Hartley
Senior Planner
07548 780 169
CHartley@lsh.co.uk

Melanie Chan
Graduate Planner
MChan@lsh.co.uk