These are the latest significant developments planned across Greater Manchester
The transformation of a burned down nightclub in Wigan is one of a number of significant developments planned for Greater Manchester.
Jak’s on Wigan’s King Street, popular with revellers, was ravaged by a fire in November last year. Emergency services were called at around 10.30pm in November, when several late night bars in the area were busy.
Click here for the latest on Greater Manchester’s politics in our newsletter
The nightclub was destroyed by the fire, but now plans to transform it into 18 apartments have been tabled.
Here is a breakdown of each borough’s recently submitted public notices…
Bolton
Plans for ‘gated’ estate of five-bedroom townhouses in Bolton
Details of a new ‘gated’ housing estate on elevated land overlooking a brook have been published.
Outline permission has been granted for the development to the back of Irlam Street North and Eckersley Road, in the Astley Bridge area of Bolton. A planning report said the ‘sits in an elevated position to the south of Astley Brook’. Currently the land is used for the storage of agricultural vehicles and equipment.
The site consists of hard landscaping and outbuildings in various states of condition and use.
Plans for funeral centre for pets to provide ‘a quiet space for viewing’ beloved animals
Plans for a ‘funeral centre’ for pets in an outbuilding in Bolton have been submitted.
The retrospective plans, by Serenity Pet Funeral Services, seek to formalise the use of the outbuilding to the rear of a property on Tonge Moor Road. Plans submitted to Bolton council in the past week state the use of the building as providing ‘small-scale pet funeral services’.
A planning statement in support of the plans said: “The use has been operating since 2021 and provides a sensitive appointment-based service to bereaved pet owners, including the collection of pets, preparation of pets for burial or cremation elsewhere, a quiet space for private family viewing and the preparation of memorial keepsakes.
Manchester
Gorton pub staff accused of ‘deliberate attempt to hinder police investigation’ and being ‘involved in serious crime’
Staff at a Gorton pub will be questioned by police who believe a ‘deliberate attempt to hinder a serious ongoing investigation’ was made by ‘removing’ CCTV footage.
Greater Manchester Police visited The Angel, at 37 Wellington Street in Gorton, multiple times in early April to ask for CCTV recordings as they investigated a ‘suspected kidnapping’ in the area, council licensing papers say. GMP believe there was a ‘deliberate attempt to hinder a serious ongoing investigation by removing or destroying CCTV footage’, documents add.
The pub’s premises licence has been temporarily suspended by Manchester council pending a full review.
Salford
Electric GoKarts and bowling arcade confirmed as part of £16m Quayside refurb in Salford
A GoKarting track and bowling alley are part of the £16m changes coming to the Quayside shopping mall in Salford. Peel Retail and Leisure, who own the mall, have confirmed Hyperdrive Karting and Hollywood Bowl are moving in.
The site was recently slammed as a ‘ghost town’ after a series of closures left many retail units shuttered and abandoned. But as part of a £10m refurb plan approved by Salford Council last week, developers intend to ‘transform the waterside destination into a leading regional leisure hub’.
The plans involve knocking through walls in the ‘mostly vacant’ food court on the building’s mezzanine level and empty retail units and offices on the upper floors. These will be reconfigured into three large commercial units.
Stockport
Stockport council launches legal challenge over plan for 540 homes near A555
Stockport council has launched a legal challenge against a developer’s plan to build 540 homes near the A555 Airport Relief Road. Redrow Homes (Harrow Estates division) proposes to expand Woodford Garden Village by building on green belt land in December 2024. The firm later accused Stockport council of ‘prolonged delays’ in making a decision on the planning application. Nearly a year later, in September 2025, Redrow lodged an appeal to the Planning Inspector and was successful, with permission given to press on with the work.
Tameside
The transformation plan for Droylsden Marina
Droylsden Marina has been vacant and underused for years, but it could soon be regenerated as new plans for 192 new homes have been unveiled.
Developers, True North Partnerships and CERT, want to build three apartment blocks on the land adjacent to the Lock Keepers site, behind the old library. All the homes would be affordable and of a high quality design, according to developers.
In addition to the apartment blocks, the scheme also includes a series of duplex homes at ground level. The duplexes would be arranged to maximise views across the marina, Ashton Canal and towards the Pennines and Manchester city centre.
More demolition work planned for giant food factory in Dukinfield
The giant food factory in Dukinfield is in the process of being bulldozed, but now plans for further demolition work have been tabled.
Pilgrim’s UK, one of Britain’s largest pork providers, shut down operations at the Bow Street site back in 2023. Plans to demolish the vacant factory, on the border of Dukinfield and Ashton, have already been approved by Tameside council. Demolition work was due to start last month and take 14 weeks to complete.
Now OREP Fund Propco 1 Limited intends to scrap the metal bridge, which connects the warehouses on opposite sides of the River Tame. It is hoped that once approval is granted by the local authority, this demolition work can be started on May 18.
Wigan
Former Wigan nightclub building gutted by huge fire could become flats and commercial units
A fire-ravaged former nightclub building could become 18 flats if conversion plans are approved.
The Jak’s nightclub building, on King Street in Wigan, is the subject of a planning proposal from Atherton based applicant CLS-UK. Documents on the council’s planning portal say the development would contain 18 flats on the upper levels and three commercial units on the ground floor.
On the evening of November 22, a huge fire ripped through the former nightclub. Emergency services were called at around 10.30pm, when several late night bars in the area were busy.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login