New life could be breathed into vacant, historic Chesterfield building

New life could be breathed into a vacant building in Chesterfield.
Keep checking our website for the latest news.Keep checking our website for the latest news.
Keep checking our website for the latest news.

Kevin Burns has submitted a planning application to Chesterfield Borough Council to restore Hurst House, a large early-Victorian property on Abercrombie Street, to residential use.

The building – which was used as a venue for adult education courses for many years after it was vacated by Chesterfield Grammar School – has not been in use since 2014 and Chesterfield Civic Society has voiced concerns about its deterioration.

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In September, Derbyshire County Council – which is responsible for Hurst House – revealed it had authorised the sale of the Grade II-listed property.

Hurst House.Hurst House.
Hurst House.

In a statement on behalf of the applicant, SLA Design said: “The works are to take place on all floors of the building, converting them into a new family dwelling.

“There is no additional buidling work to take place to the outside envelop of the building.

“The site lies close to a variety of amenities and is served by local services and facilities in the town centre.”

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Philip Riden, chair of the civic society, said: “The civic society committee in principle welcomes the application to restore Hurst House to residential use.

“As the borough council is aware, the committee has for the last 12 months been pressing Derbyshire County Council to sell Hurst House to someone who will make proper use of it, instead of leaving it empty and potentially deteriorating.

“The committee sees little to object to in the proposed new interior layout, which will enable Hurst House to become an attractive private residence again.

“Our only reservation concerns the single-storey, flat-roofed extension at the rear, which was added when the property became an adult education centre.

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“We feel that the appearance of the building would be much improved by the removal of this structure.

“This would still leave adequate accommodation on the ground floor of the house but would create more space for parking – which at the moment is not over-generous for a property of this size. We feel that this extension is an excrescence that could be dispensed with.”