What Happens Next?

What happens next?

Heanor Grammar School Action Group have taken on a big challenge on your behalf, and so have Amber Valley Borough Council. We want you to support us and join us.
We need the support of the local community, and those further afield – such as alumni of the school and of Heanor - who care about this important historic building and all it stands for.

The Site is now owned by Amber Valley Borough Council

AVBC are restoring the building.
They are creating new entrances.
Modern standard accessibility and safety features will be included.
The grounds are landscaped as both gardens and car parking areas.
The work has been overseen by heritage conservators.
The roof is now watertight.
The windows have all been replaced.
Flooring and paneling have been restored and upgraded.
The decorative plaster ceiling in the hall has been restored.
Th Caley Robinson War Memorial Triptych will be restored to its proper place in the main hall.
The work is expected to be completed in Summer 2025
Expressions of interest in using space in the building can be made here - Express your interest at https://www.heanorgrammar.co.uk/future/rent-a-space

And Next . . .

Events are in the hands of Amber Valley Borough Council but we expect that: -

As the building nears completion agreements should be reached with a range of prospective tenants and occasional users of the facilities.
Formal arrangements will be made for the day to day management of the building and the rest of the site.
The public will be kept informed of developments.
Open days will be held to showcase the redeveloped building and grounds.
The re-opening of the building and the restoration of the Triptych should be marked by community celebrations.
Watch this space!

So what do we do now..?

The Work of Heanor Grammar School Action Group, and of the local community is not over!

We will continue to work persistently with all the stakeholders (the local community, local authorities, any commercial interests and the heritage organisations) to try and ensure that any development on the site respects the following:-

The needs and wishes of the local community
The historical and architectural value of the main building
The regeneration needs of Heanor Town centre

We can do these things through public campaigns and lobbying and through engaging with the local planning process.

Heanor Grammar Community Foundation and Heanor Grammar School Action Group are aware of the current plans for Derbyshire County Council to use the bulk of the newly refurbished Grammar for some of their offices, and of some reasonable concerns that parts of the local community have about them. We are asking questions of AVBC in order to understand the current plans and the situation better; these are still being finalised.

Once we have a bit more information we will be working together to establish the best possible way forward from here (or, depending on how you look at it, the least worst!). No one is suggesting that this is (yet) the outcome that we all dreamed of, but there is a difference between aspirations (which are not the same as promises) and pragmatic realities. One reality is that we have to move forward from where we actually are, rather from where we might have wished to be. Another, which we have been aware of from the start, is that the site must cover its own costs.

We aim to clearly establish what we think is the best possible and realistic option going forward, one which balances the interests of the community with the safeguarding of the unique heritage of the former Grammar School site. Once this is done we will do all we can to work towards that option in collaboration with all interested parties. We will keep you updated here.