Enforcement action taken against former Spread Eagle

High Peak Borough Council has taken formal enforcement action against the owners of the long-derelict Riverside Inn - also known locally as the former Spread Eagle.

The move follows years of campaigning by local Labour councillors Edward Siddall and Bob McKeown, who have worked alongside council officers and enforcement teams to address concerns about the deteriorating building, at the Woolley Bridge roundabout.

The action has been issued under Section 215 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, which allows councils to intervene where land or buildings are considered to be adversely affecting the amenity of an area.

According to the official notice, the council believes the condition of the site is having a negative impact on its surroundings. The property is now subject to a legal order requiring significant works to be carried out.

These works include cleaning and preparing all external elevations; removing flaking paint, graffiti and vegetation; repairing masonry; blocking up broken ground-floor openings; restoring render; repairing or replacing damaged roof tiles, guttering and timber fascia boards; and repainting the building. The notice also requires the site to be secured, with any unsafe fencing reinstated and painted.

Owners have been given until 18th August 2026 to complete the works, with failure to comply potentially resulting in further legal action.

The building is privately owned by a Chinese family now living in China, although it is understood that some members may still be based in the UK. They originally purchased the site with plans to convert it into a Chinese restaurant, but it is believed these plans were affected by the 2008 global financial crisis.

Councillor Siddall said the enforcement action marks an important step forward:

“I’ve been working on this issue since 2011, and over the years there have been various enforcement actions, such as requiring the owners to fence off the site while it has remained unused. Our recent focus has been on ensuring the property is both made safe and looks better.”

He also addressed resident’s calls for the council to purchase the site directly, stressing that any such decision would need to demonstrate clear value for money.

“If the council could prove a viable use, such as social housing, and secure the funding so it would cost the taxpayer either nothing or something they would get a return on, then it would be worthwhile. But at the moment, we don’t have that plan or that funding.

“People have asked why High Peak Borough Council doesn’t simply buy it, but the council would need a clear and sustainable business plan to justify that. We can’t spend taxpayers’ money purchasing a property simply because it doesn’t look nice. That’s why we are requiring the owners to either improve it or sell it to someone who will.”

Photo: Councillors for Hadfield South Bob Mckeown and Edward Siddall.

Councillor McKeown’s involvement with the site dates back even further, to around 2003 when the building first became derelict. Both councillors have worked over many years to encourage progress, including contacting the owners when potential buyers expressed interest.

However, interest has reportedly been hindered by pricing and a lack of engagement. The property has previously been listed for sale at figures including £500,000, and later around £350,000, without any real progress.

Councillor Siddall added:

“Most developers would knock the building down and start from scratch, so the owners have to be realistic about what they are selling - it’s not a site that contains a successful business or a current income stream; it’s a derelict building.”

The former Spread Eagle has a long history in the area, dating back to 1805 when the road in front of it was first built. Before its decline, it was a well-used and popular pub.

“It’s such a shame because it was once a thriving pub,” Cllr Siddall said. “I believe the landlord became ill and the ownership returned to the brewery, who renamed it the Riverside Inn, but unfortunately it didn’t do as well. Changes in local nightlife and the growth of nearby ‘Staly Vegas’ may also have contributed to its decline, with other pubs in the area, such as the Spring Tavern, closing over time too.”

Despite its current condition, there is some optimism about the building’s future. A structural survey carried out around five years ago reportedly found it to be sound, raising the possibility of redevelopment, including a potential flat conversion.

Councillor Siddall added that the A57 Link Road infrastructure project could help improve the site’s attractiveness:

“The building is currently in a difficult location, right on the roundabout which is the main route in and out of Glossop. But hopefully, with the new link road improving access, someone might see its potential. The order requires improvements such as replacing the render, repainting and clearing overgrown vegetation, which will also make it more attractive to buyers.”

The council’s enforcement notice represents the first formal legal step requiring the owners to take action. It is hoped the order will lead either to the building being properly maintained or to a sale at a realistic price, allowing the site to be brought back into use after more than two decades of decline.