Wickes confirmed to take over former Cineworld site in Leigh

Plans have been submitted by Wickes for a new store at the Loom Retail Park in Spinning Jenny Way, Leigh.

The move comes after plans were approved earlier this month to transform the vacant former Cineworld into a unit for “bulky goods” retail.

Realty Income Limited submitted the initial plans to Wigan Council earlier this year to convert the site into a shop supplying DIY, trade, and home improvement products.

Mark Craft from Wickes and Alex Yates from Sovereign Signs are now steering the proposal for new signs for the upcoming store.

The plans include a series of new signs, including internally lit fascia signs, and a free-standing directional sign measuring 2 metres by 1.8 metres, made from galvanised steel and aluminium.

The new signs are expected to remain in place until June 2030 if the proposal is green-lighted.

The illuminated signs will emit a steady light at 250 cd/m.

Prepared by Sovereign Signs, the proposal acknowledges that they would be noticeable from public roads and pathways.

According to the document, no external consultations were undertaken regarding the notice, and no advice was sought beforehand from the local authority.

The application was registered on June 25 and received validation on July 15.

For those interested in seeing the plans, they’re available on the Wigan Council planning portal quoted under reference number A/26/101121/ADV.

The plans for the former Cineworld to become a retail unit for bulky goods were approved by Wigan Council recently.

The former Cineworld, which has been empty since January 2025, is to be transformed to accommodate a shop supplying DIY, trade, and home improvement products.

Alterations include the addition of new roller shutters, revised windows, and the establishment of a service yard next to the building to handle deliveries from large vehicles.

The name of the shop wasn’t confirmed in those plans, but the new signage plans confirm that Leigh is getting a Wickes store.

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