Belper Civic Forum

 The Inspector appointed by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government has dismissed the appeal by Chevin Property against the decision of Amber Valley Borough Council not to allow redevelopment of the building. Chevin Property wanted to replace the building, which started life as a private school c.1830, by a three storey block containing 15 dwellings and build a further block of 4 dwellings.

The Belper Civic Forum campaigned  to protect this historic building within the World Heritage Site and are very pleased with the Inspector’s Report which makes very interesting reading and will provide useful information and precedent should similar applications arise again. For example, in response to the appellants case that decay to the building in recent years had reduced the opportunities for retention and repair the Inspector stated, “In my opinion this amounts to deliberate neglect”.

The Belper Civic Forum is concerned about the forthcoming closure of the Herbert Strutt School. The Forum believe that this very attractive listed building that was given to the town, could be re-developed in an unsympathetic way and a valuable opportunity to create a community asset would be lost.

As part of the National Heritage Open Days Scheme, the Forum arranged an open day on Saturday 8th September at Strutt School which 90 people attended.

The school was opened in 1909 and given to the town of Belper by George Herbert Strutt (1884-1928). Alan Bates, Simon Groom and Timothy Dalton were among former pupils. It’s an exceptionally attractive stone building that forms a gateway to Belper in the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site.

Amber Valley Borough Council is commissioning a feasibility study on the future of the building, this must be completed by 31st March. The study will consider redevelopment for residential use but should also consider the shared commercial and community use proposed by the Forum. Various organisations have expressed an interest in acquiring or using the building for commercial purposes and the Forum has met or been in discussions with some of these. It is the intention of the Borough Council that the proceeds from the sale of the site will all go to the Herbert Strutt Charity.

The Belper Civic Forum has now formed a “Strutt School Sub-Group” to take forward its own “Herbert Strutt Community Project”. The Group was formed at an open meeting for local people who had volunteered to help. The meeting took place on February 8th. A steering group of nine people and a working group of fourteen people were set up.

The Steering Group met on February 12th in the school itself, in the rooms rented to Derwent Brass, with their kind permission. An open letter expressing the concern about the building had been sent to County and District Councillors. The Group are also preparing:

• A press release for the BBC to coincide with the closure of the school on 27th February when a procession of children will take place between the old and new school sites.
• A proposal to Amber Valley Borough Council to purchase and redevelop the building for mixed Commercial and Community use.
• A petition, the text of which is as follows, “We the undersigned care about the future of the Herbert Strutt School building and urge that it be used as a community facility for Belper.“
• The completion of a survey of potential community users.

The petition will be launched soon and will include an internet option.

Members and local people may also express their concerns by raising questions at the next Local Community Forum (see calendar).