HPBC snaps up 350,000sft of High Peak industrial estate

The council has bought Etherow Industrial Estate, 200,000 square feet of office and warehouse accommodation covering about 10 acres, and a vacant business unit of 150,000 square feet on the adjacent Waterside Business Park in Hadfield.

The industrial estate is home to businesses including Tom Howley, Howdens, Wray and Apex Self Storage, while the industrial site was once occupied by retail company JD Williams.

Councillor Damien Greenhalgh, deputy leader and executive councillor for regeneration, leisure and tourism said: “Creating more good jobs, supporting local businesses and attracting new investment into High Peak is something this administration and I are passionate about.

“We have some fantastic businesses in Glossopdale and across the High Peak, but I know from speaking to local employers that finding the right premises to start up, grow or expand can be a real challenge. Too often, a lack of suitable space means businesses simply can't take that next step. “That's why we're taking a more ambitious, hands-on approach. Rather than sitting back and waiting for investment to come to us, we're stepping in, working with the private sector and making things happen.” To make this possible, the council has formed a joint venture with Evolve Anchor, a property investment and development company owned by the shareholders behind Sheet Anchor Evolve, part of M Core. Two limited liability partnerships, Waterside Prospects LLP and Etherow Prospects LLP, have been created.

Both are owned and funded by the council, with Evolve Anchor as development partner.

Evolve Anchor bought the rest of Waterside Industrial Park in 2025.

The move will provide new enterprise units in High Peak, an area where there is a limited supply of employment land available for immediate development, including a lack of good quality small to medium sized industrial premises and start-up or enterprise facilities.

Councillor Greenhalgh said: “By investing in these sites in Hadfield, we can help bring a large vacant building back into productive use, create much-needed space for smaller and growing businesses, and support the jobs and opportunities that local people and our economy need.

“With only 60 workplaces across the High Peak employing more than 50 people, our smaller businesses really are the backbone of our local economy. Helping them succeed, while attracting new businesses into the area, is absolutely vital to our communities' prosperity. “Ultimately, this is about investing in the future of High Peak. We want local people to have more opportunities to find good jobs closer to home, our businesses to have the space and confidence to grow, and our towns to benefit from a stronger, more resilient local economy. “I'm really pleased we're making this happen with the support of the Sheet Anchor Evolve team, and looking forward to seeing these sites brought forward and delivering for our communities.”

The vacant industrial site in the Hadfield area of Glossopdale, is close to the M67 that links to the M60 for Manchester and beyond.

Philip Murphy, Director at Sheet Anchor Evolve and Project Lead for Evolve Anchor said: “Good quality small and medium-sized industrial units are in short supply across High Peak, and local businesses are telling us the same thing they are telling the Council: they want to grow here but cannot find the premises to do it.

“Working with High Peak Borough Council allows for a long-vacant building to be brought back into use and create the kind of flexible space that start-ups and growing firms need, with good access to the M67 and Greater Manchester.”

An application for planning permission to develop the sites is due in 2027 and, if granted, building works will start thereafter and should take about eighteen months to complete.

The new enterprise units are expected to be available for lease from summer 2028.