 Trafford Park was founded in 1897 , and at its peak in 1945 employed 75 @,@ 000 people . As well as being the world 's first planned industrial estate , it is Europe 's largest business park . More than 1 @,@ 400 companies are within the park , employing between 40 @,@ 000 and 50 @,@ 000 people . The Trafford Centre , which opened on 10 September 1998 , is North West England 's largest indoor shopping complex . The centre has over 30 million visitors annually , and contains 235 stores , 55 restaurants , and the largest Odeon cinema in the UK . 
