Glossop has a rich industrial heritage, which brought wealth and vitality to the town since the industrial revolution. The town today has not lost its industrial past, with a wealth of industrial employers supporting strong employment in the town.
On the eastern edge is Old Glossop, a quieter part of town with a cluster of picturesque 16th and 17th century cottages, close to Manor Park. On the western edge of the town is Gamesley, home of the Roman remains of Melandra Castle. Nestled at the foot of the dramatic Dark Peak moors, Glossop offers both the traditional high street with the potential to be part of the new mill developments.
Glossop incorporates a number of smaller towns – all with a strong industrial base. Hadfield – the most northern extent of the High Peak, Dinting – dominated by a huge 1845 viaduct, and central Glossop are all 30 minutes from Manchester city centre by train, located very near to the M67 and M56 motorways, and 30 minutes from the airport by car.
Glossop is the largest town in the High Peak, with a population of almost 31,000 and nearly 60 per cent of its residents of working age. The range of specialist and non-chain shops in the town is a valued element – as is the level and provision of local services, facilities and public areas.
A new retail and housing development was completed at Wren Nest Mill and £2.1 million Glossop Vision public realm works are due for completion in early 2008. Complementing this public sector investment has been development from the private sector, such as the transformation of the former Glossop Gas Works to create a new Business Centre and two former mill sites are being fully re-developed to further contribute to the retail, office and leisure elements in the town as well as providing business incubation units.
Glossop has several existing industrial business parks which house a wide range of industries and knowledge-based services. In addition to these, work has now completed on the first phase of a new industrial development with the second phase is under development. Together this will offer over 345,000 square feet of high quality industrial and distribution space. Strategic access will further improve with the proposed construction of the Mottram Tintwistle & spur By-pass.