The Old Grammar School
Retaining Presence and Legacy
The Grade II Listed building is owned by The Fidler & Randall Trust, they wish to establish a premises that will aid with their hospitality-based training courses by providing a public interfacing use in the town centre.
The proposed utilisation of the building seeks to not only provide a public facing training facility, but also a vibrant and contemporary addition to the town centre, improving footfall and attracting tourism through the introduction of accommodation. By creating a separate economic enterprise, income generated can be used for the future ongoing on maintenance and repair of this historic building and retain its presence and legacy for years to come.
The proposals
ERMC were commissioned by the Isle of Wight Council to conduct a condition survey of the building and produce a subsequent strategy for reuse including undertaking design proposals and cost analyses.
The building’s owners, The Fidler & Randall Trust, seek to bring the Old Grammar School back into active use as a productive element of the adjacent HTP Apprenticeship College, whilst also providing a private entity for Air B&B opportunities.
These proposals are intended to facilitate financial sustainability to secure the ongoing maintenance of the building, which should be efficiently configured to support a degree of flexibility or multi-functionality that encourages community engagement.
The layout
Our scheme proposes to reconfigure the internal space to accommodate a more efficient layout allowing multiple concurrent functions. Poor-quality extensions to the north elevation will be demolished and the space and existing services in this area consolidated to house modern toilet facilities and a new commercial kitchen. The remaining historic form and fabric of the main building will house the new deli / café area and flexible rental space, and the old scout hall will be refurbished for regular community use.
Alterations to the first floor are largely restricted to subdivision of the spaces and installation of modern services to form five new AirBnB-style hotel rooms with en-suite bathrooms. Should this accommodation function prove to be viable, it could possibly be extended into the second floor roof space subject to cost and viability at a future date.
