This site is adjacent to the iconic Wigan Pier and is one of the largest brownfield sites in Greater Manchester, having capacity to accommodate 800 homes, offices, a hotel, commercial and leisure space. It is a highly complex site with a number of delivery challenges including extensive up-front infrastructure, ground remediation, utilities upgrades, demolition and conversion of listed mills. Acting for the landowner/developer (the Heaton Group) Hive were commissioned to provide project management, governance, delivery and infrastructure funding advice.
We secured £24m of Good Growth funding for the Heaton Group through a fiercely competitive process. Without this essential grant, the project simply couldn’t proceed. Acting as the keystone between key players at GMCA and Wigan Council, we coordinated a compelling funding submission that demonstrated the scheme’s transformational potential.
Town centre regeneration is a political priority across Greater Manchester, but delivery depends on making the numbers work. Cotton Works is designed to be the catalyst that unlocks wider investment in Wigan town centre. It demonstrates what’s possible when you align public sector ambition with private sector capability, creating places that actually work for local people. That’s what this funding achieves.


