Coventry's Old Grammar School given building permission

[dutchman]

Plans to restore a piece of Coventry history have been given approval.



Planning permission has been granted to repair the Old Grammar School and replace an adjoining building to provide disabled access.

If funding bids are successful applicants from Coventry Transport Museum hope to extend into the 14th Century former school.

The Grade I listed building, on the corner of Bishops street and Hales Street, would house new exhibitions.

In April last year, The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) said campaigners could apply for £4.9m to refurbish the the building. A further £3m is being sought through other applications.

In October 2012 the Old Grammar School was added to an English Heritage list of historic buildings at risk of being lost because of decay, damage or neglect.

The Coventry Society, which campaigns for the city's heritage, has welcomed the restoration proposals.

[THE FAT MAN]

At LAST the Old Grammar School is going to get a revamp.I remember the old place well during the 1980s its well deserved and will bring a lot of tourist .

[dutchman]

Old Grammar School refurbishment plan wins £7.7m in funding

One of Coventry’s oldest buildings will get a new lease of life after £7.7million funding was secured for an ambitious refurbishment project.

Coventry Transport Museum has been awarded the money from both the European Regional Development Fund and the Heritage Lottery Fund for the redevelopment of the Old Grammar School in Hales Street.

The museum is expanding into the former school building which has been derelict for years.

The two awards mean work is now set to begin on the sensitive restoration of the listed building which is next to the museum and has been derelict for years.

Once completed, the building will help tell the wider story of Coventry’s part in transportation manufacturing with a new exhibition, education and multi purpose event space.

The project will also include significantly upgrading the majority of the exhibition galleries within the museum, relocating the shop, and creating a new entrance and community engagement spaces.

The regeneration work is supported through £3.1m from the ERDF together with funding from the museum and an additional £4.6m from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The Telegraph revealed the Heritage Lottery money was on the cards in April.

Communities Minister Baroness Hanham CBE said: “This museum is a very successful attraction and it is important to ensure it remains popular with visitors.

“The regeneration work planned will clearly help to increase visitor numbers to the area but also create jobs for local people.

“A few years ago I had the pleasure of visiting the museum and learning about the history of the local area and the role it played in transportation and technologies.

“The museum is an important asset for Coventry and it was clear to see how this played a crucial role in the wider regeneration plans for the city. I am delighted that we have been able to offer our support to the museum.”

Gary Hall, chief executive of Culture Coventry - the new Trust responsible for managing Coventry Transport Museum, said: “Since we opened our doors 30 years ago, a spirit of innovation has been rooted in the stories we tell about Coventry’s engineering pioneers and the role they played in shaping Coventry’s unique transport heritage.

“This project will transform the museum by creating new lively and exciting exhibition spaces that will attract new audiences and inspire people through the story of Coventry and its importance on the world’s automotive heritage.

“It will also bring back to life one of Coventry’s oldest buildings so that members of the public can once again engage with this historic building in vibrant and exciting ways.”

The Old Grammar School began life as a hospital in the 12th century.