Gibfield Park Masterplan:
Public Consultation
Help to shape a new community and employment opportunities for Atherton and Westhoughton
We’d like to invite you to take part in our consultation for the emerging masterplan at Gibfield Park. The purpose of the consultation and the masterplan process is to establish a framework to inform the long-term development of the site and detailed schemes that will come forward under future planning applications. This initiative proposes a vibrant future for the site, which is largely inaccessible to the public, including up to 500 high quality new homes, new employment opportunities, and the creation of a new Country Park.
Your views matter and will help inform the proposals going forward.
As part of the extension to the consultation, a webinar has been arranged for 6:30pm on Tuesday 3rd March. Here, members of the project team will present the proposals and take questions. To register your attendance click here.
Click here to download the slide deck from the presentation to local elected representatives
About Peel Land: Our Commitment to the area
Peel Land (part of the Peel Group) is proud to be bringing forward this proposed masterplan, continuing our commitment to sustainable development and strong community partnerships. Our approach is guided by:
- Sustainability – prioritising green spaces, energy-efficient homes, and long-term environmental stewardship.
- Community Engagement – listening to residents and working together to deliver places that meet your needs.
- Economic Growth – investing in local opportunities and supporting Wigan’s future prosperity.
We believe in creating thriving communities where everyone has a stake in shaping their surroundings.
Northstone (part of the Peel Group) in partnership with affordable housing provider Torus is currently completing the construction of 113 affordable homes, known as Popple, off Stothert Street, Atherton. This site is adjacent to Gibfield Park.
Introduction
Gibfield Park is allocated for development through Policy JP34 Land West of Gibfield in the Places for Everyone Plan (PfE) for up to 500 homes, up to 45,500sq.m of employment floorspace and a country park. PfE is the long-term joint development plan of nine Greater Manchester authorities, approved by Wigan Council and adopted by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) in March 2024.
The Policy requires the site to be brought forwards in accordance with a comprehensive masterplan that is approved by the Council. This masterplan is currently being prepared by Peel Land, as landowner, and we would like your thoughts on our draft proposals.
The masterplan includes:
- Up to 500 new homes across two sites close to North Road and Gibfield Park Way
- Up to 45,500sq.m of employment floorspace
- Extension of Gibfield Park Way northwards
- Creation of a Country Park, preserving Green Belt land between Atherton and Westhoughton
The plan will improve access to the countryside by the creation of a dedicated Country Park, which would enhance open spaces for greater leisure use, and enable local wildlife to thrive through protecting and improving habitats. Together, this masterplan envisions a thriving, connected community where people, nature, and opportunity grow side by side.
NorthFold – Strategic Growth Corridor
Gibfield Park is strategically located within NorthFold (formerly the Wigan-Bolton Growth Corridor) – one of the key growth locations within the city-region situated to the north-west of Greater Manchester. The NorthFold strategic vision was established in 2025 as a collaboration between Wigan and Bolton Councils, working together with Greater Manchester Combined Authority and development partners including Peel Land.
A core objective of the growth corridor is to support significant investment opportunities across the northern areas of the city-region, helping to boost the competitiveness of all parts of the north and delivering inclusive growth.
A Vision for Gibfield Park
Our vision for Gibfield Park is to create welcoming, well-connected neighbourhoods that feel part of the existing communities and not separate from them.
What We’re Aiming For
Gibfield Park will offer a range of new homes for different people, families, and budgets. New employment opportunities and the creation of a new Country Park. Connectivity will be improved by extending Gibfield Park Way. These new areas will:
- Fit in with nearby communities, not feel like a separate development
- Be easy to walk and cycle around, with everything people need close by
- Open up access to the countryside and green spaces with the creation of a new Country Park
- Bring local jobs with the creation of up to 45,500sq.m of employment floorspace
A new Country Park
A key element of the emerging proposals is a Country Park for all to use, approximately 29 hectares in size (equivalent to around 40 football pitches). The Country Park will be accessible from both the east and west to integrate it into the new and existing communities.
The Country Park will deliver habitat enhancement, creation and long-term protection through ecologically led landscape design. The focus will be on improving existing habitats and creating new features, including a series of wetland pockets in the central area. The Country Park will include a 1km walking and running loop that will be accessible to all, as well as a heritage trail providing information about the coal mining history of the site. It will also include other more informal trails for enjoying nature. The Country Park will include (but not limited to):
- Connections to existing and new communities
- Heritage trail within community area
- Dedicated footpaths
- Informal play spaces
- Seating clusters and wayfinding
- Promoted cycle routes
- Habitat enhancements
Masterplan
Parameters Masterplan
Gibfield Park provides the opportunity to deliver new homes and employment spaces within a wider green infrastructure network that connects to a multi-functional new Country Park and opportunities for improved active travel and strategic highway infrastructure.
The site has the potential to deliver a range of opportunities including:
- Economic drivers: a significant number of new homes and mix of employment spaces delivering new homes, job creation and supporting economic growth in the area
- Nature-led Approach: prioritising ecological drivers and sensitive interventions across the site and the park, balancing community access with space for nature, securing a comprehensive strategy to newt mitigation and wider ecological enhancements.
- Sustainable links: the active travel network will play a key role by connecting to public transport options, including links to existing bus stops and bus routes as well as towards Daisy Hill and Hag Fold Train Stations.
- Safe & Welcoming Environment: establishing new and enhanced routes that are fully accessible and are framed around the country park and a network of high quality, welcoming public open spaces for new and existing residents to dwell, reflect and play.
- Celebrating Heritage: creation of a dedicated Heritage Trail to evoke the site’s rich industrial heritage whilst creating meaningful educational and play experiences for visitors through materiality choices, interpretative elements and storytelling around the park.
The proposed masterplan has emerged out of the process of understanding the site’s current opportunities and challenges, it’s local context and the needs and requirements of the local community.
Housing delivery
The Masterplan is proposing to deliver up to 500 new homes providing a range of dwelling types and sizes to deliver inclusive neighbourhoods and meet local needs, including a mix of high-quality family housing.
The homes would be split across two sites off Gibfield Park Way (around 200 homes) and North Road (circa 250-300 homes). The plans are still at an early stage, and more information on the types of homes across each of the sites will be brought forward as part of the future planning process. We will seek to include 25% affordable housing, in line with Wigan Council’s affordable housing policy, helping more people get onto the housing ladder.
Employment Floorspace
The masterplan includes up to 45,500sq.m of employment floorspace with use classes of the following:
- B2 Manufacturing
- B8 Storage or distribution
- E (g) Uses which can be carried out in a residential area without detriment to its amenity
With a range of options, the employment floorspace would provide opportunities for local businesses to grow and/or new businesses to locate to the area.
The employment floorspace would be located slightly north of Wigan Road and will lie between Gibfield Park Way and Schofield Lane. Access to the site would be from three potential points off Wigan Road, Gibfield Park Way and Schofield Lane.
Improving Connectivity
An Accessible Neighbourhood
Gibfield Park is in an accessible location and will provide future residents, employees and visitors with a realistic choice of sustainable transport options to access a wide range of locations locally and to key regional hubs.
The site will help to deliver much needed housing and economic growth, in support of wider strategic objectives for the area, with a vision-led sustainable travel strategy that promotes and prioritises sustainable transport modes and reduces the reliance on car-based travel.
Improving Local Connectivity
The masterplan has been designed so that it is easy for everyone to get around and enjoy. The housing developments will be made up of clear, well-connected areas that provide easy access to the Country Park.
Walking, cycling, and using public transport will be encouraged through safe, green, and pleasant routes. This approach helps to create a place where everyone can move around easily, feel safe, and enjoy their surroundings.
Additionally, Gibfield Park Way will be extended north, providing access into the residential community and forming the next piece of the wider strategic road connection between the M6 and M61. This investment in connectivity supports the creation of a truly liveable neighbourhood, where walking, cycling, and public transport become the natural choice for everyday journeys.
The site is well served by public transport, with local railway stations at Daisy Hill and Hag Fold, both of which can be accessed easily on foot or bicycle from the site. Local bus services stop adjacent to the site on the western and southern boundaries.
Consultation History
January 2014
The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) agrees to develop a Spatial Development Strategy (SDS) for the city region, which includes the Borough of Wigan. This was to be known as the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF).
September 2014 – November 2014
Consultation undertaken on the initial evidence base for the development of an SDS, including the projected housing and employment space requirements.
November 2015 – January 2016
Consultation undertaken on the GMSF vision and strategic objectives alongside a “call for sites”, to which land west of Gibfield was included.
October 2016 – December 2016
Public consultation undertaken on the first draft GMSF, to which more than 27,000 responses were received as part of this consultation. The 2016 Draft GMSF included a proposal to allocate land west of Gibfield for 750 homes and up to 45,500sqm of employment floorspace.
January 2019 – March 2019
Public consultation undertaken on a revised draft of the GMSF, which notably reduced the extent of Green Belt release across the city-region by more than half. Land west of Gibfield remained as a draft allocation for around 700 new homes and up to 45,500sqm of employment floorspace.
December 2020
Stockport withdraws from the GMSF, and the remaining nine Greater Manchester Councils agree to develop a new joint Development Plan Document (DPD), to be known as “Places for Everyone”.
July 2021
The Places for Everyone: Publication Plan is recommended for publication and submission to the Secretary of State for Housing Communities and Local Government. The Publication Plan includes the allocation of land west of Gibfield for the development of a reduced number of homes (around 500) and up to 45,500sqm of employment space.
August 2021 – October 2021
The draft allocation at land west of Gibfield is the subject of consultation within the Places for Everyone: Publication Plan.
14th February 2022
Places for Everyone is submitted to the Secretary of State for Housing Communities and Local Government for examination by a panel of independent Planning Inspectors. The submitted version included the allocation of land west of Gibfield for the development of 500 homes and up to 45,500sqm of employment space.
1st November 2022 – 5th July 2023
The Examination hearings were held throughout this period with members of the public able to attend and make representations. The hearings were held at the former Manchester Fire and Rescue Training Centre near central Manchester.
14th February 2024
The Inspectors’ Report on the Examination of Places for Everyone is published and found the Joint DPD to be legally compliant with recommended main modifications to be formally approved and adopted by each of the nine authorities.
21st March 2024
Places for Everyone is formally adopted by each of the nine Greater Manchester Councils, including Wigan Council. The Places for Everyone plan is now part of the statutory development plan for each of the nine authorities. This includes the allocation of land west of Gibfield for the development of around 500 new homes and up to 45,500sqm of floorspace. A policy requirement for the future development of the site allocation specifies that development must be in accordance with a comprehensive masterplan to be agreed by the Council.
9th February 2026 – 9th March 2026
Peel Land launches their consultation on a masterplan for the allocation, including the indicative location of the homes, employment space and development of a new country park. The country park will remain in the Green Belt, to retain open space between the towns of Westhoughton and Atherton.
Summer 2026
Subject to approval of the masterplan, a planning application for the first phase of the development will be the subject of a further round of non-statutory consultation where the next stage of design and technical detail will be available for members of the public to comment upon. Any application will then be submitted to Wigan Council who will undertake a statutory consultation on the proposals.
2027+
Planning applications for future phases of the development will be prepared, consulted on, submitted and then further consulted on prior to a decision being made.
2037 (Approx.)
All phases of development projected to be completed.
Have your say
We are consulting on the proposals for the Masterplan. The consultation period will run from Friday, 6 February to Monday, 9 March 2026.
We are inviting the community to share your thoughts, concerns, and suggestions regarding the proposed Masterplan. This inclusive approach aims to ensure that the development reflects the needs and aspirations of the local community to shape the final development. Your feedback and suggestions are critical and will help refine the final plan before it is submitted to Wigan Council for approval.
Next Steps: Shaping the Future Together
Following this consultation, all feedback will be carefully reviewed and considered as we move towards finalising the masterplan for approval by Wigan Council. There will be further opportunities for community input as the project progresses, ensuring that your views continue to inform how the development evolves.
Stay informed and involved – together, we can create a vibrant, sustainable future for Gibfield Park.
Each of the proposals for housing and employment space will require separate planning applications (subject to the masterplan being approved) and we will be consulting with the community again on each of these elements in the future.
By taking part in this consultation, you are playing an important role in shaping a brighter future for your community.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the team at:
