News: Grimm & Co expansion plans backed by Council's planning board
The planning board at Rotherham Council have voted unanimously to approve plans that would enable literacy charity, Grimm & Co, to expand into a former church building in the town centre.
Rothbiz reported first that a planning application had been submitted for reimagining the Talbot Lane Methodist Church as a much larger premises for the innovative charity, affording it greater possibilities to deliver its mission to change lives one story at a time.
The plans, designed by Yorkshire-based architecture practice Halliday Clark, for the £1.5m redevelopment of the church, which closed earlier this year due to dwindling congregation numbers, will enable Grimm & Co to expand its services having outgrown its existing space at Doncaster Gate across town.
The gift shop from Grimm & Co's current home will be recreated, alongside new facilities including a bookshop and cafe called "The Book and Broomstick." Three new classrooms will be constructed where the charity can expand their interactive story-telling sessions. To protect the unique history of the building, the church's historic organ and pulpit will be preserved, and some pews retained to form quirky classroom and cafe seating.
The renovations will allow Grimm & Co to increase their earned income and strengthen their financial position, making the charity less reliant on public funds. The much larger space means that more under-resourced children across Yorkshire, Humberside and Derbyshire will benefit from Grimm & Co's innovative storytelling and writing workshops, which are currently booked up until the end of the year.
Halliday Clark's plans to sensitively restore the building include initial renovations to remove most of the existing church pews to allow the flexibility of furnishings; subdividing the interior at first floor level; continuing with repairs to the roof and improving the heating and ventilation systems, before creating a brand new "world of wonder."
The plans have attracted support around the reuse of the building but also objections, the majority relating to heritage impacts around the church building.
Chris Wilkins, development manager at Rotherham Council, told the planning board: "We, as officers, are concerned that if the building is not used then it will fall into disrepair. The proposals that we have in front of us, whilst not ideal, and the conservation officer accepts that - there will be harm to the building. We feel that the benefits outweight the harm that would be caused."
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Deborah Bullivant founder of Grimm & Co, said: "Halliday Clark have provided outstanding levels of support throughout this complex planning application process. We endeavour to be sympathetic to the fabric of the building whilst enabling the practicalities that our charity will need to make this a successful venture. There is a whole team of people and agencies involved in supporting us to do this, all of whom have provided such amazing support throughout. Halliday Clark, in particular, have been swift, agile, creative and responsive throughout the process, listening to all parties to make sure the needs of the building and the charity are served. We're thrilled to have successfully passed this significant milestone in our adventure."
Richard Walsh, director at Halliday Clark, added: "Talbot Lane Methodist church is a stunning building right in the heart of Rotherham town centre, and it would be a terrible shame if it were to go unused. Grimm & Co are driving a children's education revolution from Rotherham, so we're incredibly pleased that we can use our expertise in the renovation of heritage and religious buildings to assist them in taking their business even further and helping more children across the region.
"There can be difficulties and sensitivities working with listed buildings, but we've come up with a design that both respects and modernises the building - which is already magical - and will create an incredible new home for the world of story-telling."
Grimm & Co are due to find out on October 31 if they have been awarded a £499,000 grant from the Arts Council to kick-start the renovations. If successful, work is due to commence on site before Christmas 2019 with the new headquarters due to open in July 2020.
Grimm & Co website
Images: Grimm & Co / Halliday Clark
Rothbiz reported first that a planning application had been submitted for reimagining the Talbot Lane Methodist Church as a much larger premises for the innovative charity, affording it greater possibilities to deliver its mission to change lives one story at a time.
The plans, designed by Yorkshire-based architecture practice Halliday Clark, for the £1.5m redevelopment of the church, which closed earlier this year due to dwindling congregation numbers, will enable Grimm & Co to expand its services having outgrown its existing space at Doncaster Gate across town.
The gift shop from Grimm & Co's current home will be recreated, alongside new facilities including a bookshop and cafe called "The Book and Broomstick." Three new classrooms will be constructed where the charity can expand their interactive story-telling sessions. To protect the unique history of the building, the church's historic organ and pulpit will be preserved, and some pews retained to form quirky classroom and cafe seating.
The renovations will allow Grimm & Co to increase their earned income and strengthen their financial position, making the charity less reliant on public funds. The much larger space means that more under-resourced children across Yorkshire, Humberside and Derbyshire will benefit from Grimm & Co's innovative storytelling and writing workshops, which are currently booked up until the end of the year.
Halliday Clark's plans to sensitively restore the building include initial renovations to remove most of the existing church pews to allow the flexibility of furnishings; subdividing the interior at first floor level; continuing with repairs to the roof and improving the heating and ventilation systems, before creating a brand new "world of wonder."
The plans have attracted support around the reuse of the building but also objections, the majority relating to heritage impacts around the church building.
Chris Wilkins, development manager at Rotherham Council, told the planning board: "We, as officers, are concerned that if the building is not used then it will fall into disrepair. The proposals that we have in front of us, whilst not ideal, and the conservation officer accepts that - there will be harm to the building. We feel that the benefits outweight the harm that would be caused."
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Deborah Bullivant founder of Grimm & Co, said: "Halliday Clark have provided outstanding levels of support throughout this complex planning application process. We endeavour to be sympathetic to the fabric of the building whilst enabling the practicalities that our charity will need to make this a successful venture. There is a whole team of people and agencies involved in supporting us to do this, all of whom have provided such amazing support throughout. Halliday Clark, in particular, have been swift, agile, creative and responsive throughout the process, listening to all parties to make sure the needs of the building and the charity are served. We're thrilled to have successfully passed this significant milestone in our adventure."
Richard Walsh, director at Halliday Clark, added: "Talbot Lane Methodist church is a stunning building right in the heart of Rotherham town centre, and it would be a terrible shame if it were to go unused. Grimm & Co are driving a children's education revolution from Rotherham, so we're incredibly pleased that we can use our expertise in the renovation of heritage and religious buildings to assist them in taking their business even further and helping more children across the region.
"There can be difficulties and sensitivities working with listed buildings, but we've come up with a design that both respects and modernises the building - which is already magical - and will create an incredible new home for the world of story-telling."
Grimm & Co are due to find out on October 31 if they have been awarded a £499,000 grant from the Arts Council to kick-start the renovations. If successful, work is due to commence on site before Christmas 2019 with the new headquarters due to open in July 2020.
Grimm & Co website
Images: Grimm & Co / Halliday Clark
1 comments:
Whilst not a RUFC fan, the RMBC Officer remarks ref the Conservation Officer comment smack of two differing approaches when considering how Guest & Chrimes has been dealth with. That site should be dealt with on the same disrepair basis.
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