Dave Whelan, owner of Wigan Athletic football club and the DW Sports Fitness retail and leisure chain, has won consent for a new £6.5m youth facility in
Half of the development costs for the Wigan Boys and Girls Club has been provided by Whelan as well as Bill Ainscough, chairman of St Helens-based developer Langtree, and his cousin Martin Ainscough, former boss of a local crane hire firm.
The 37,000 sq ft scheme is designed by Liverpool-based architects Austin-Smith:Lord and will feature recreational and sports facilities, music and art studios, a climbing wall, all-weather pitches and improved public spaces.
Construction will start this autumn for completion next year.
