Refurbished former Heanor Grammar School opens its doors

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.”