Refurbished former grammar school opens its doors

A former grammar school, which has largely stood empty for more than a decade, has opened its doors to the public after undergoing significant refurbishment.

Amber Valley Borough Council has started taking bookings for the Grade II listed building in Heanor to be used for community events.

Two-thirds of the building will also be leased to Derbyshire County Council in a move that was criticised by some but has been defended by leaders as a means of reliable income.

County council staff are expected to move into the building in the coming weeks.

There are also plans for a separate building on site to be offered for small and start-up businesses to rent.

Plans for the nearby science block building have yet to be confirmed after it was removed from the overall project.

Amber Valley Borough Council took on the former Heanor Grammar School in 2022 after receiving £8.6m through the government's Future High Streets Fund.

It had stood largely empty since 2013.

The council's Labour leader Chris Emmas-Williams said he had high hopes for the building.

"We want to make sure it starts to bring people back into Heanor. We've had events here that have already done that," he said.

"It was a listed building that was going to rack and ruin... we thought this was the most needing of [the government regeneration funds].

"It's welcoming, it's bright, it's a good size... we've already had interest in having a wedding held here.

"We've put ourselves on the map."

The decision to offer part of the building to about 150 staff from the Reform UK-run county council was made in July last year.

The county council previously said it welcomed the offer of the agreement as it would keep public money in public hands and give staff "a more modern working environment".

But it was criticised by some Amber Valley councillors because they had expected more opportunities for local people to use the building given the funding was for high street regeneration purposes.

But leaders argue the building will increase footfall.

Matt McGuinness, creative director for Furthest from the Sea - which hold arts events around Derbyshire - was one of the first organisations to use the venue.

"Over the years lots of community spaces have been run down and let go. There isn't that communal activity happening as much as it used to.

"So having somewhere right in the centre that has got the history and the association people have with Heanor, the Grammar, and somewhere where people can come together... we don't have enough of that," he said.

The town's mayor Alan Abernethy - whose town council were not involved in the decision making - said he felt positive about the project despite previously expressing concerns the community would not be offered enough use of the building.

"We've got a stunning building back... it looked at one point like it was going to be knocked down," he said.

"But at some point you have to change direction... look at what we have got.

"There could have been better discussions along the way, but that's life."

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