The future of the newly refurbished Heanor Grammar School has been thrown into fresh uncertainty after Derbyshire County Council (DCC) said it may pull out of a deal to occupy part of the building.
The Grade II-listed former school, restored with £8.6 million of Future High Streets Fund money, was due to be partly leased to DCC for office space, with around 150 staff expected to move in. The remainder of the building was to be made available for community and business use.
But in a statement to the BBC, Cllr Stephen Reed, Derbyshire’s Cabinet Member for Business Services, said the deal was now “no longer in the best interests” of the county council or its residents. He claims Amber Valley Borough Council (AVBC) has repeatedly changed the terms, including:
- Altering the cost of the lease
- Changing how much of the building DCC would be paying for
- Asking DCC to be responsible for maintaining the entire building, despite only leasing part of it
Cllr Reed said the original agreement would have kept “public money in public hands”, but that AVBC’s revisions had “moved the goalposts”.
An AVBC spokesperson declined to discuss commercial details but said the council remained committed to securing “a sustainable future for The Grammar”, balancing market rent with community benefit. AVBC also said discussions with DCC were continuing in a “constructive and professional manner”.
The Grammar’s redevelopment – which has already won architectural awards – has been one of Amber Valley’s most significant regeneration projects in recent years. However, the decision to devote much of the site to office use has led to strong criticism from Heanor councillors, community groups and the Mayor of Heanor and Loscoe, who say residents were expecting far greater community access.
🔗 How this links to Ilkeston
The Heanor dispute forms part of a wider accommodation reshuffle involving both Amber Valley and Erewash.
DCC’s plan – approved earlier this year – would see county council staff split between The Grammar and Ilkeston Town Hall on new five-year leases. The aim was to consolidate office functions currently spread across sites including Mercian Close in Ilkeston and Parkwood in Alfreton.
With the Heanor deal now uncertain, questions remain about how DCC will structure its new “hub” model. For Ilkeston, the expectation remains that more staff and services will be based at the Town Hall, ensuring a continued council presence in the town centre.
No changes to Ilkeston Town Hall have been announced, and DCC has not indicated any intention to revisit that part of the plan.
📌 What happens next?
AVBC and DCC are expected to continue negotiations over the coming weeks. If talks fail, DCC may seek an alternative location for its Amber Valley office base, leaving the future of The Grammar – and the long-promised mix of community and business use – unclear.
Ilkeston News will continue to follow developments.