The privately-funded scheme involves remodelling the Galleries shopping centre and adding a leisure complex with a cinema, a gym and restaurants.
The plans also include re-establishing the town鈥檚 old street pattern and moving Wigan Market to Market Street, where it was originally sited. The new location would be directly opposite Wigan bus station, which is also due to undergo a 拢16m revamp.
Developer Vale Retail plans to reconfigure the shopping centre to create the larger stores that retailers now prefer.
Deputy council leader David Molyneux said it was 鈥渁 wonderful opportunity for Wigan and one not to be missed鈥.
He said: 鈥淭hat a private developer wants to invest such a large sum of money into the town centre is a tremendous vote of confidence in Wigan.鈥
Wigan鈥檚 Market Place is also getting a 拢1.3m makeover next year, to enable it to host events.
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