The former rugby stadium site transformed into a £11.3m housing development
The £11.3m transformation of a former rugby stadium in Leigh has finished.
A total of 103 family homes have been built at the site of Hilton Park, which had been the home of Leigh Centurions before it was demolished in 2009.
Construction was completed in a number of phases over the last two years.
All of the properties – a mix of two, three and four-bedroom houses as well as one-bedroom apartments – have already been reserved, according to Alec Maullin, a project manager at Sigma Capital, the developer behind the plans.
He said: “The site has proven extremely popular with all homes fully reserved ahead of the final handover.
“We’ve already seen a great neighbourly spirit, so we’re confident that it will be a very sought-after place to live and it will fit in with the existing local community very well.”
Energy, regeneration and services specialist ENGIE has built the new homes on behalf of Sigma Capital Group for their Simple Life private rental brand.
Simple Life, which offers new homes for rent, is also responsible for the Belmont Place scheme in Hindley Green and Hamilton Square in Atherton.
Those behind the Hilton Park project say there has been ‘plenty of demand’ from prospective residents looking to move into a ‘high-quality’ property.
Steve Gregory, head of new build at ENGIE UK and Ireland, said the company is currently putting the finishing touches to work at the former Hilton Park site.
He said: “The project will bring more much-needed homes to the community in Leigh, with opportunities for prospective residents to have more space for a growing family or down-size into a modern new home.
“Completion of the development continues the successful partnership ENGIE and Sigma share, which benefits and regenerates communities across every area we work together.”
Work on the site, which is located off Chadwick Street, began in March 2019.
It comes after a series of planning applications were submitted for the site, including a controversial proposal to build 100 homes by Miller Homes.
This application was rejected by Wigan council, but given the green light on appeal. However, the developers then decided to drop the housing scheme.
In 2015, housing developer Mulbury Homes unveiled its own plans to build a mix of bungalows and apartments on the five-acre site which had been vacant since Leigh Centurions moved to their new ground at Leigh Sports Village.
Hilton Park had previously been the club’s home since 1947 and was renamed ‘The Coliseum’ after the rugby league club added ‘Centurions’ to its title.