Plans are under way to turn a derelict former school building into a community, leisure and business space. Amber Valley Borough Council acquired Heanor Grammar School as part of its Future High Streets project, which has secured £8.6m of Government funding, as part of an overall £17.8m town centre regeneration programme.
The future of the former school, in Mundy Street, Heanor, which Derby firm Vale Property Limited previously owned, has been uncertain for many years with local residents growing increasingly concerned as the building deteriorated.
However, Simon Gladwin, executive director of operations at the council, has confirmed that he is working with an architect and a surveyor to establish the site's future. He also confirmed that the initial drawings and concept art have been created and that officers are in consultation with the heritage team, with planning applications expected to be submitted by November, as seen in the Derbyshire Telegraph.
Read more: Police appeal for help to find missing woman from Newark
We went inside the grammar school and managed to get some photos that show the extent of the damage time has done to the building.
Mr Gladwin said: "A lot of people talk about the science building being knocked down which is next door to the grammar school, however, it's not quite as simple as just taking it down as there is a telecoms tower on the roof that currently prevents that, so we are looking into different options.
"We hope to be able to transform the space into something that adds to the centre of Heanor, as you can see from the inside there is plenty of space to work with, it's just figuring out what to do with the parts of the building that are protected.
"It's clear this building and its location means a lot to people, and we want to make sure we do it properly. We hope this will invigorate the town square along with other future plans for the market area to help bring life back into the centre."
Elaine Broughton is a former pupil at the school. She said: "I started at Heanor Grammar School in September 1973 when I was 13 years old and was part of the last intake of the school from the local secondary schools.
"I loved the school building with its wood-panelled corridors, old worn stone steps leading to the upper floor and beautiful stained glass windows. To me, it was just how I envisaged a grammar school and was very different from the very modern school I had transferred from.
"It saddens me to see the current state of the building, both inside and out, and the grounds in which it stands. I hope the council's plans will restore the building to its former glory and produce a useful and well-used facility for the people of Heanor and the surrounding community."
READ NEXT:
