Member Article

ISG appointed to £6.1m Wigan Town Hall restoration

International construction firm ISG has been selected as the preferred contractor for a £6.1m restoration project on Wigan Town Hall.

The Grade II listed building will be remodelled to provide improved working space for council staff after the scheme was procured through the North West Construction Hub framework.

Construction will begin in November this year, when ISG will set about restoring some of the building’s Victorian features after they were concealed in the 1970s.

As it stands, the building is split into modular sections with meeting areas, however ISG will create a completely new interior to offer open plan workspaces.

False ceilings and plaster finishes will be removed, while the building’s original parquet flooring and elmwood floorboards will be preserved.

A new reception area will be created on the ground floor of the building, where original stained glass windows will also be unveiled.

Donna Hall, chief executive of Wigan Council, explained: “The Agile Working strategy was developed in response to the government’s budget reductions, it will allow for a better, more efficient way of working.

“Operating from fewer buildings, staff will hot desk, job share and work from home, promoting a more flexible and joined-up approach to working. This way we’ll be able to make the savings needed, while working more effectively.”

ISG will carry out work on the building’s exterior, where refurbishments are needed on the roof, chimneys and windows.

The firm said it will work alongside English Heritage to ensure all work carried out is in line with restoration regulations, and to maintain full sensitivity in removal works.

ISG’s project will include boiler and radiator renewal, full electrical and mechanical updating and new pipework throughout the building, while the firm also pledged to deliver cost efficiencies across the scheme.

Andy Mallice, ISG’s Northern regional managing director, said: “This challenging project will help to restore and safeguard the future for this iconic regional building.

“The scheme is an exciting blend of traditional building conservation and contemporary office planning, with a state-of-the-art service installation and a focus on reducing overall running costs and delivering a building that better serves the local community.

“A key element of the project is the opportunity it gives us to support and invest in the local economy, and this means that we will be actively looking to locally source materials and the workforce required to deliver the scheme.

“We are also committed to providing a long-lasting legacy within the communities where we work, and will be forging links with local colleges and apprenticeship providers to create a range of training opportunities for local residents throughout the duration of the redevelopment.”

MsHall, concluded: “We were extremely impressed with the level of ISG’s experience and as such, we are confident that they will be able to deliver this challenging refurbishment. I look forward to seeing the plans turn into reality.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Miranda Dobson .