TOWN centre makeover plans could be handed a further cash injection if the borough holds off competition for a "highly competitive" government fund.

Council bosses are preparing a bid for a share of the Future High Streets programme, which would add to their own £10m pot to kick-start regeneration schemes.

Details of the bid have emerged this week coinciding with one key town centre project nearing its end.

The town hall has said the £510,000 refurbishment of Market Place in Wigan – started earlier this year – is "almost complete".

Ministers unveiled the £675m high street fund in December to help "modernise high streets and town centres" in a changing retail environment.

Local authorities can apply through a two-step process, the first of which involves submitting an expression of interest by later this month.

Wigan’s proposed bid comes weeks after leader of the council, David Molyneux, announced that £10m will be earmarked as part of the 2019/20 budget to help town centres across the borough.

This is in addition to a free weekend parking scheme in Wigan and Leigh being extended until next year and is hoped to allay concerns the borough’s smaller town centres are not receiving support.

These flagship policies are part of a fresh focus on helping town centres across the borough with Wigan – the borough’s main retail centre – experiencing a year of mixed fortunes.

The town’s £15.7m new bus station opened in 2018 and the free parking scheme has proved to be a success.

However, there continues to be question marks over redevelopment plans for the Galleries shopping centre in Wigan town centre, which the council purchased more than a year ago.

And like many high streets across the country there have been setbacks, most notably the decision by Marks and Spencer to close its prominent site later this year.

Commenting on the funding bid for Wigan, Becca Heron, director of economy and skills, said: “The guidance is explicit in that it requires local authorities to ensure that they are prioritising the town centres which face significant challenges and where the funding has the potential to have greatest impact.

“The fund will contribute up to a maximum bid £25m.

"A high number of bids are expected to be made for this programme.

"Focusing on one town will ensure we can submit the strongest possible bid and will give us the best chance of being awarded funding.”

The delayed scheme to refurbish Market Place got underway earlier this year having been originally scheduled to start in 2017.

Its design has been scaled down from the original £1.3m proposals first revealed in 2014.

Contractors have been resurfacing the site in recent months, replacing benches, adding additional seating and installing recycling bins and trees.

Cllr Molyneux said: “We are committed to supporting the continued vitality of our town centres as we recognise that they are used in different ways by different residents and visitors.

“Town centres are so much more a social space than they used to be which is why we have created a design to compliment events and to provide a welcoming focal point.

“The benches we have replaced have been moved to Mesnes Park for further use, providing even more seating for walkers and families.

“We are confident that this new design will support the shopping experience and will benefit local businesses.”

The Future High Streets fund will help "transform local high streets into modern vibrant community hubs", the government has said.

Speaking at its launch in December, minister Jake Berry said: “We all know high streets are changing, we can’t hide from this reality.

"But we’re determined to ensure they continue sit at the heart of our communities for generations to come.

“To do this we have to support investment in infrastructure, boosting local economies and ensuring people are able to get the most out of their local high streets.

"Empowering leaders on the ground is key too – they best understand the challenges facing their areas.”

The town hall said Wigan is "well placed" to have a successful bid.

Ms Heron added: “Our recently announced Strategic Regeneration Framework means that there is a strategy in place that clearly articulates the vision for the regeneration of the town centre.

“We remain committed to developing our other town centres, including Leigh, which is demonstrated by our current work to deliver significant changes to Leigh town centre through the Believe in Leigh fund.

“This work follows consultation with local residents and community groups and we are making significant progress already.

“The future of our high streets is a key priority and we will always look into external funding and investment opportunities that can help deliver our ambitions to support the local economy to thrive.”