A £20 million bid for funding to create improved leisure, wellbeing and cultural facilities for Glossop has been submitted. 

Put forward by High Peak Borough Council, the bid includes proposals for a new state-of-the-art leisure centre and wellbeing hub on the old Glossopdale School site on Talbot Road. 

If successful, the funding would also fast-track efforts by the Friends of Victoria Hall to secure the building’s future as a community hall and live performance venue.  

The multi-million pound bid is being made to the Government’s Levelling Up Fund and an announcement on the outcome is expected in the autumn. 

Leader of the Council, Councillor Anthony Mckeown, said: “The Council is committed to delivering projects which enhance the lives of everyone who lives and works in the High Peak.  

“Our vision for regenerating Glossop is already underway, with the £7m renovation of the historic Town Hall complex. 

“Securing the funds we are asking for from Levelling Up will enable us to press ahead with our plans for new leisure and wellbeing amenities and a cultural hub at Victoria Hall more quickly.” 

Victoria Hall in Glossop 

He said the complicated bidding process required a considerable amount of officer, member, and stakeholder support to develop a detailed, and supported, bid that meets all the Government requirements to bid to Round 2 of the Fund. 

As part of the Government requirements to bid, the council’s submission needed to include detailed calculations of the value for money of the package. 

This work then compares the economic benefits and costs to produce a Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR). The Glossop bid is comfortably above the requirement set by Government and indicates that the bid should perform well against value for money requirements. 

Councillor Damien Greenhalgh, Deputy Leader and Executive Councillor for Regeneration, Tourism and Leisure, said: “Regenerating our town centres and creating thriving high streets is at the heart of what we want to achieve for the High Peak. 

“We know people share our ambition for High Peak and our towns like Glossop – ambition that is completely compatible with the objectives of the Levelling Up agenda – so it’s great that our bid is in, and we look forward to hearing the decision later this year.” 

Giving his backing to the bid, High Peak MP Robert Largan said: “I’ll be working on a cross-party basis to support this bid and to try and secure this funding. I’m also keen to work with the local NHS to try and increase the healthcare element of the plans.  

“I think there is real potential for using part of the Talbot Road site for improving local access to healthcare. 

“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make Glossop an even better place to live!” 

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