Good progress is being made on the ambitious project to return Glossop’s heritage halls to full use – the catalyst in the Borough Council’s regeneration plans for the town.
The project was given a big boost in December when it received funding of £2m from the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership via their Getting Building Fund allocation.
The High Peak Borough Council led project will bring the Town Hall, Market Hall and Municipal Buildings up to modern standards – creating jobs and new spaces for entrepreneurs and micro-businesses alongside the introduction of energy saving technologies and fibre broadband.
Work is now well underway and has, to date, included the strip-out of the internal market hall and the installation of a large, central glazed sky light, replacement of the flat roof at the Municipal Buildings and the creation of two new glazed roof lanterns and the re-slating of all roofs.
Councillor Anthony Mckeown, Leader of the Council, said: “Restoring Glossop’s most important civic buildings and really opening them up to the public for the first time in a long time is the most important regeneration project we’ve undertaken in Glossop for decades.
“We’re delighted to have won a significant amount of funding from D2N2 for this work following our application which, along with the money the Council continues to invest, means we’re able to get on and deliver this project sooner rather than later.
“That does mean that we’ve had to look again at the work programme and what’s involved in delivering this exciting project which will benefit our residents, businesses and visitors for decades to come.
“Renovation projects such as this inevitably mean some temporary disruption whilst the work is carried out, including for traders in the town hall arcade, and we’ll be keeping everyone updated as we move onto the next stage.”
In addition to the work to replace the roofs at the Municipal Buildings and Market Hall, the project involves:
- Refurbishing the Town Hall, including work to restore the ornate plasterwork, and replacing the lift
- Renovating the Market Hall to create a new mezzanine floor providing units for creative and start-up businesses and food and retail units on the ground floor
Discussions are now beginning with town hall arcade and market traders on how the work programme will affect them what the alternative trading arrangements might be.
Councillor Damien Greenhalgh, Deputy Leader and Executive Councillor for Regeneration, Tourism and Leisure, said: “We’ve been clear from the start that we’ll support market traders wherever we can. That commitment has not changed and we’ll now be working with them to offer solutions which enable them to continue to do business whilst these much-needed improvements take place.
“Whilst major projects like this can’t be delivered without some short-term inconvenience, the result will be absolutely worth it – rejuvenated public buildings which will breathe new life into the heart of Glossop offering opportunities for entrepreneurs and business start-ups as well as giving the focus for a revitalised market, leisure, events and our emerging food and drink scene.
“It’s exactly the boost Glossop needs as our community and its businesses emerge from the lockdowns and restrictions imposed on us by the Covid pandemic and we seek to build back stronger.”
