Issues and SWOT

strength

Use Leigh’s renewed square beyond special events

The square has completed physical improvements.

Proposed response: Publish arrangements for community use and accessible routes.

Evidence

strength

Make room for homes people can afford

Average private rent is £746 a month (August 2026) in Wigan council area. This is £713 lower than the England average for the same month. Homes rented privately ranged from 6.4% in Winstanley to 28.9% in Leigh Central & Higher Folds — a gap of 22.5 percentage points.

Housing costs matter most alongside earnings and the number of affordable homes available. A local average cannot tell us whether a particular household can afford its home.

weakness

Leigh Market still needs building work

The council identifies a future market refurbishment.

Proposed response: Explain the repairs and trader arrangements.

Evidence

weakness

Bring support closer to people in poor health

6.2% of people reported bad or very bad health in Wigan council area (21 March 2021). Across England, the figure was 5.2%. People reporting bad or very bad health ranged from 3.8% in Winstanley to 8.7% in Leigh West — a gap of 4.9 percentage points.

This is how residents described their health in the census. It can reveal differences between neighbourhoods, but does not diagnose illness or measure current waiting times. Age profiles differ between places, so these shares do not measure service quality.

opportunity

Give Wigan’s centre more reasons for repeat visits

Fettlers combines several uses on the former Galleries site.

Proposed response: Publish the confirmed mix and phase dates.

Evidence

opportunity

Plan homes and care around an older population

19.3% of people in Wigan council area were aged 65 or over (21 March 2021). People aged 65 or over ranged from 13.5% in Ince to 25.5% in Shevington with Lower Ground & Moor — a gap of 12 percentage points.

Age alone does not mean poor health or a need for care. Accessible homes, reliable transport and support close to home matter as people get older.

opportunity

Connect local skills to local opportunities

25.8% of people aged 16 or over had a degree or equivalent (21 March 2021) in Wigan council area. Across England, the figure was 33.9%. People aged 16+ with no qualifications ranged from 13.8% in Standish with Langtree to 28.8% in Ince — a gap of 15 percentage points.

Qualifications show one part of the skills available locally. They do not show whether people have secure jobs or work that uses those skills.

opportunity

Turn published plans into visible progress

3 named local projects or plans have official evidence in this collection.

A published plan makes responsibilities and intentions easier to inspect. It does not prove that funding is secured or that promised benefits have arrived.

opportunity

Target support where disadvantages overlap

Households facing two or more measured disadvantages ranged from 11.6% in Winstanley to 30.2% in Ince — a gap of 18.6 percentage points.

These households met at least two census conditions covering education, employment, health and housing. This is not an income or poverty measure.

threat

Maintain local trade while major sites change

Both market refurbishment and the Galleries redevelopment can change access during works. This is a delivery risk to manage.

Proposed response: Agree clear business access and signage.

Evidence 1 · Evidence 2