Why Save HGS

Background information

Why save an old building?

There are so many reasons:

It's a brilliant and beautiful building - it's Grade II listed for a reason. It has graceful proportions and symmetry. From the outside you can see stained glass, tall windows, and round windows, tall chimneys and a copper covered cupola. Inside, it's a beautiful work of art, with oak panelling, parquet floors, fine wide stone staircases, lots of natural light, a two storey central hall with first floor galleries, archways and little nooks and crannies. You can see the listed building status information on the following link:https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101109038-south-east-derbyshire-college-heanor-and-loscoe
It's got great potential to be used for the community - not just in Heanor but beyond in the towns and villages of Amber Valley and Erewash. Have a look at our 'vision' page to see some of the ideas so far.
It has potential to attract footfall trade and spending into Heanor to boost the local economy.
It's part of Heanor's heritage. It was designed by George Widdows who was Derbyshire's Chief Architect - he was known for designing really great public buildings.
The design was ground breaking in its day and it became the template for building Grammar Schools throughout the UK and even the British Colonies.
It is believed to have been the first mixed secondary school funded by local rate in England.
It has a huge painting (a 'triptych') by the renowned Pre-Raphaelite artist Frederick Cayley Robinson. It is an artwork of national significance - and is part of the listing. It is a War Memorial to the men and boys of Heanor Grammar School who died in the first world war and was paid for by public subscription.
The building has been through the mill! Since the College closed in 2013 it has stood empty and neglected, and by the beginning of 2023 was in a derelict state.

A timeline showing key dates and events

Potted History

The original Grammar School building was paid for by a levy on the people of Heanor early in the 20th century.
The Grammar School merged with South East Derbyshire College in 1976.
South East Derbyshire College merged with Derby College in 2010.
The site was owned by Derby College, who were 'given' the site and the building (along with several other packages of land) when they merged with South-East Derbyshire College in 2010.
Derby College sold the entire site to Vale Property Ltd, a p roperty developer in 2016.
In September 2017 Vale submitted a planning application for the conversion of the listed building into 24 apartments and the construction of 19 dwellings on the surrounding site.
The application did not meet the National planning requirements, the requirements of Amber Valley Borough Council’s Development brief for the site, or Historic England’s standards relating to the building’s listed status
A large number of objections were submitted by both the public and stakeholders, such as Historic England, War Memorial Trust, and Heanor and Loscoe Town Council.
Planning deadlines were set for December 2017, and March, June and September 2018 at which time the application was recommended for rejection by the planning officers.
Finally, in November 2018 the Planning Board threw out the application describing it as 'The Worst' Planning application they had ever received.
Vale property failed to keep the site secure or to undertake maintenance and the building fell into considerable disrepair.
The site was back on the market (October 2020).
The Asset of Community Value moratorium was invoked by Heanor Grammar School Action Group CIO, preventing any sale before the 25th of April 2021.
Amber Valley Borough Council was successful in its bid for the Future High Street Fund and are in receipt of £8,592,837 from the government to improve the Town. This includes funding for the acquisition and redevelopment of the former Grammar school site.
The Borough Council purchased the site from Vale Property in 2022 and restoration work began in 2023.
The restored site is expected to be in operation in the first half of 2025.

What about Training and Education?

Derby College tried but failed to get a digital studio at the site. They said there wasn't enough demand. But in our research with over 1,000 people who live in Heanor, around 7 out of 10 people said they wanted to see education and training at the site.

That's not just 700 people who want to learn though - that's just out of the people we spoke to. That would be thousands of learners if you think about all of the people who live in Heanor and around.

People want to learn lots of different things - arts, science, maths, languages. Maybe Derby College didn't offer us the right sort of learning for our area?

Don't we need more houses?

The main part of the site is taken up by a Grade II listed building which is protected both inside and out. Getting planning for houses on the site will be almost impossible to do.

To be able to make best use of the building, the rest of the site will be needed for car parking and for plant and fire escapes. It also needs some outside space - for example to provide a good quality nursery you'd need a play area; cafes, or function spaces will want open air spill out spaces. There are also some lovely gardens that need restoring.

We believe that sensitive and creative development of the site could also be used to help to improve the rest of Heanor - imagine a beautiful, restored building, with a walkway leading to the Memorial park, and then the other way, to some fantastic shops in the Market Place. And some pedestrianised areas too, like they have in Ilkeston and Belper? What difference would that make to Heanor!?

The Borough Councils plans for use of the Town Centre Funding include new housing in the town including on Whysal Street car park.

Is it too expensive to run?

Once the Government Future High Streets grant is spent, and the restored building and site are up and running, then 'The Grammar' will have to pay it's own way. However, the maintenance costs for such a large heritage building will always be significant and it may never be profitable in commercial terms.

The Building and grounds will have to generate revenue in order to cover its maintenance, running and staffing costs.

Running costs can be managed by ensuring that the restoration is delivered to a high standard; including double glazing, insulation and, (where possible) sustainable sources of power.

It will be up to the Borough Council (AVBC) to set charges for different kinds of users that will maximise use of the spaces and generate revenue while not pricing the facilities out of the reach of local groups and businesses.

Getting this balance right will ensure the long term future of The Former Grammar School.