The Wigan Joint Services Centre is a standout example of how well-designed, well-managed public infrastructure can transform local service delivery and bring lasting value to the community it serves.

Comprising two flagship local authority buildings in the heart of Wigan town centre, the project continues to play an essential role in supporting residents’ health, wellbeing, education, and provide access to vital services.

Although Wigan is home to many thriving neighbourhoods, the wider area also faces some of the most significant deprivation levels in the UK. The demand for accessible, high-quality public services is therefore both constant and critical. The Joint Services Centre helps meet this demand, operating seven days a week and providing safe, modern, and welcoming spaces that bring together services normally delivered from multiple locations.

A two-site centre supporting thousands of local residents

South site: a vibrant community destination

The South Site is a hive of daily activity, open 16 hours a day and serving as both a leisure destination and a working hub. The building hosts:

• A popular, well-equipped gym
• Two swimming pools – a main eight-lane, 25-metre pool and a learner pool
• A busy local swim club affiliated with Swim England, with regular galas attracting visitors from across the country
• Flexible office space accommodating more than 650 staff across health, housing, leisure, and other public services

The South Site’s ability to operate extended hours, 363 days a year, reflects its importance to the wider community and the strong operational management in place.

North site: blending heritage and modern design

The North Site unites contemporary architecture with a Grade II listed terracotta façade, creating a distinctive and inviting public building. Inside, visitors benefit from:

• A busy public library offering warm spaces, computer access, and community support
• Local authority services including registrars and a dedicated wedding room
• A welcoming, open-plan atrium
• A location at the heart of a vibrant public square used for festivals, sporting events, and community celebrations

Built in 2011, both buildings have been exceptionally well maintained to an “almost-new” standard despite heavy footfall year-round. This is due to the consistently high standard of maintenance and lifecycle care and is a testament to the strength of the long-term management arrangements in place.

A partnership built on trust and collaboration

The success of the Wigan Joint Services Centre is rooted in a strong and longstanding PFI partnership with four key stakeholders working in harmony. The project brings together:

• Equitix as Project Co/SPV
• Wigan Council as the local authority
• Dalkia as Facilities Management Contractor
• Equitix Management Services (EMS) as the Management Services Provider

EMS acts as the central connector, ensuring all parties work cohesively through a structured governance framework. Regular operational meetings, lifecycle reviews, energy forums, health and safety audits, and director-level oversight underpin a transparent, collaborative, and performance-driven approach.

This collaborative culture delivers measurable results. The project maintains excellent performance levels, low deductions, high compliance, and a remarkable 97.5% user satisfaction score in 2025.

Operational excellence and a ‘team Wigan’ spirit

A hallmark of the project is its stable, committed team. Many staff across the Facilities Management Contractor, the authority, and the leadership group have been in post for more than a decade – an exceptional level of continuity in the FM sector. This long-term experience brings deep knowledge, strong relationships, and a shared sense of ownership that users feel every time they walk through the door.

The project’s success is often quiet and understated, but it is built on significant expertise and daily operational dedication. Issues are resolved quickly through a solutions-focused approach, and lessons learned are reviewed openly and embedded rapidly.

Managing heritage: care and innovation

The Grade II façade of the North Site adds uniqueness – and complexity – to the project. Defects, maintenance challenges, and even occasional vehicular impacts have required careful negotiation, specialist input, and close communication with the local authority’s Conservation Officer.

Innovations such as the use of new intumescent fire-stopping products have reduced long-term maintenance needs. Regular surveys, planned lifecycle work, and collaborative decision-making ensure the heritage fabric remains protected for the future.

Sustainability, efficiency and long-term value

Continuous improvement is central to the project. Recent LED upgrades in pool areas have delivered:

• £16k annual energy savings
• c. 90 kWh annual reduction in consumption

Further lighting and sustainability works are underway across the site.

Efficiencies in lifecycle delivery are also notable. Much of the decoration work is done out-of-hours by Dalkia’s on-site team, saving significant costs and allowing the community spaces to remain open without disruption.

The absence of extended downtime – unlike schools, for example – means meticulous planning is essential. From pool viewing gallery works timed around galas to evening-only repairs, the team consistently balances community access with building upkeep.

Responsive to community needs

The Centre’s added-value activities show how small ideas can have a big impact. A single piece of feedback from an evening class user about a lack of shelving in disabled toilets led to upgraded shelving across both buildings, installed to DDA standards at no extra cost to the Authority.

These kinds of thoughtful, user-driven improvements reinforce the Centre’s commitment to accessibility and visitor experience.

A project with heart, purpose and strong community impact

The Wigan Joint Services Centre stands as an example of how modern public infrastructure can evolve, adapt, and respond to changing community needs – all while maintaining high standards of safety, performance, and user satisfaction.

Its continued success is the result of a close, collaborative long-term partnership built on transparency, shared common goals, and a genuine commitment to local people.