Atherton and Daisy Hill campaigners fear Gibfield ‘concrete jungles’

Earlier this month plans to create Gibfield Park, between Atherton and the Daisy Hill area of Weshoughton, were unveiled. The proposals include 45,500 sqm of employment floorspace and creating a section of trunk road which is part of a strategy to better link the M61 to the M6 in an east west direction.

Developers Peel Land said Gibfield Park is allocated for development in the regional Places for Everyone Plan (PfE), the long-term joint development plan of nine Greater Manchester authorities.

The policy requires the site to be brought forwards in accordance with a masterplan that is approved by Wigan council. The masterplan is currently being prepared by Peel Land, as landowner.

It has launched a public consultation on the draft proposals. The campaign group ‘Say No To Gibfield Park Development Plans’ are strongly opposed to the plans.

Member, Amanda Coleman, 54, lives on Schofield Lane, immediately next to the affected land. She said: “This is not just any patch of green, it’s a sanctuary for both the people and wildlife of our community.

“For decades, it has been a place residents find solace amidst the rush of daily life and wildlife flourishes. “But now, we are at risk of losing this precious space to the relentless march of development.

“People in Atherton are already grappling with significant challenges, mounting traffic congestion, rising levels of air pollution, and a severe dearth of green spaces where families can breathe and relax.

“Concrete jungles are spreading like wildfire across Greater Manchester and Atherton is no exception. “The planned development on Gibfield Park not only threatens our community’s health and well-being but also obliterates one of the few remaining areas where nature is allowed to flourish. This is unacceptable.

“Our town is at a crossroads. Do we let developers pave over what little we have left, or do we unite to protect our shared environment for ourselves and
future generations.” John Hinckley, 69, of Schofield Lane, believes the development would jeopardise his family’s future plans.

He said: “We moved here 10 years ago and we came to live here purely because of this land. The back and side of our property is next to the development site.

“When we did the land surveys when we purchased there was nothing flagged up about development. The only thing that came up was that it used to be a mining site.

“We’re anxious about what’s going to happen. Our plan was going to be to eventually move closer to our children who live in the Lakes and Scotland but now I fear we’ll never be able to sell our house as it will be totally devalued.”

Debbie Yates, 58, has lived on Wigan Road, Atherton for 14 years. The front of her property enjoys views as far as the eye can see of the green land which is earmarked for development.

She said: “As well as other issues this is about mental health for a lot of people who live here. Those fields are as important to us as sunshine.

“I look out, particularly in the summer months and there can be up to 25 horses out, some with foals. My grandchildren look out and can appreciate nature. One of them learned some of his first words by seeing and recognising the animals.

“People come from far and wide to enjoy the outdoors here, it’s one of the last open spaces left in Atherton. To lose it will have an impact on people’s mental health as it’s a happy sight every single day.”

Mrs Yates also said she feared the views from Wigan Road would be replaced by giant industrial warehouses.

“It makes my blood boil,” she said. “How am I going to sleep with them facing me, there’s going to be night lighting.”

In its consultation document, Peel said their masterplan includes up to 500 new homes across two sites close to North Road and Gibfield Park Way, 45,500 sqm of employment floorspace, the extension of Gibfield Park Way northwards and the creation of a country park.

Peel said the park would ‘preserve green belt land between Atherton and Westhoughton’. The consultation website, the developer said ‘Peel Land is proud to be bringing forward this proposed masterplan’.

It said: “Gibfield Park is strategically located within the NorthFold growth corridor, one of the key growth locations within the city-region. 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.

Peel Land added: “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 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 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. ” Peel said following the consultation, feedback will be reviewed as they move towards finalising the masterplan for approval by Wigan Council.

Each of the proposals for housing and employment space will require separate planning applications, subject to the masterplan being approved.
The consultation information can be found at https://gibfieldpark.consultationonline.co.uk/.