SUM Studios is the revival of three beautiful Grade II listed Victorian School Board buildings into a dynamic mix of arts, business and community spaces.

The team behind the development, Heeley Trust, had a vision – to transform this local landmark and a gem of Victorian architecture into the heart of a community in Heeley. And so following years of negotiations, work started in 2009 to bring this place back from the brink of dereliction and to make it the hive of activity it is fast becoming.

The former Anns Grove School is a complex of three Grade II listed Victorian buildings overlooking the Heeley Heeley People’s Park in the heart of Heeley, Sheffield.

The school was constructed at the turn of the 19th Century by the Sheffield School Board as a forward-looking, high-quality landmark building designed by renowned School Board Architect CJ Innocent. The aim of the School Board was to create an educational resource for the coming century. 

By the turn of the 21st Century, high running costs and the need for substantial internal modification to meet the needs of both building and educational regulations were making it increasingly uneconomic to run the school.  A decision was made to replace Anns Grove School with a state of the art, environmentally sustainable school on an adjacent site. The new school opened on the adjacent site in 2006. 

The Anns Grove buildings and stone boundary walls were Grade II listed in December 1995 and, as noted in Sheffield City Council’s listing records, provide “a particularly large and complete example” of Charles J Innocent’s School Board architecture. Many of Innocent’s other School Board buildings have now been demolished”. 

 The old school is a highly valued asset in the local area, and with significant community support Heeley Trust (HDT) approached the City Council concerning community re-use of the buildings in 2006, but the local authority took the decision to place the buildings on the market for private development on vacation, but as of late 2008 no commercial interest had materialised.  The old Anns Grove buildings stood empty from 2006 until 2012, and have consequently fell into a state of disrepair and suffered from significant vandalism. 

 In late 2008, the Council re-opened discussions with HDT concerning the old schools future, and the subsequent agreement to enter in to the transfer the building asset from the Council to HDT on a lease of 119 years was approved by the City Council’s Cabinet in July 2009. The Council’s Cabinet report stated that: 

When completed, this project has the potential to establish a landmark community facility in Sheffield. The successful development of the site would provide a benchmark in terms of asset transfer and public/community partnership. The Project rescues three Grade ll listed buildings.  

 

The next phases of development will include purpose built artists’ and makers’ studios and workshops, more business spaces, rehearsal spaces, a new large venue, meeting and training facilities, and a new Cafe and Bar serving directly onto Heeley Peoples Park.

Since 2013, it has proved very difficult to raise the capital finance to complete the development – but we keep trying! 

When the whole site is complete, Sum Studios will become a hive of creative and business activity, a great place to welcome public and customers to, a site for workshops and exhibitions, and a thriving hub of activity. In short, an inspiring, functional home for businesses, makers and creators in a beautiful green environment.

The future development of the other two buildings are outlined as:

Block A:

The former Hartley building will include artist and makers’ studios and workshops, a rehearsal hall, and further business space. This affordable, flexible space will comprise:

  • Purpose-built artists’ studios
  • Maker studios and workshops
  • Dedicated rehearsal hall for theatre, music and dance
  • Further business studios facing onto the courtyard

Block C:

The former Gleadless building is planned to become a home for events, performances, socialising, learning and having fun.
More than anything Sum Studios is all about the community – not only the one it will create, but the one it serves. The people of Heeley and its surrounds will have access to an amazing resource here – there will be plenty of space for hire, for anything you want, from live music and cultural events to public meetings and parties.

 Here’s what we have in mind:

  • Large events venue
  • Café and catering facility
  • Conference and meeting facilities
  • Training & Education spaces
  • Heeley Trust HQ and office

New Green Spaces:

Currently, the old playground areas are being used for car parking. But eventually Sum will be a car free environment, with the grounds surrounding the buildings transformed into a series of green spaces and pocket parks, which will be a key social space accommodating open air events including live music and performance.

What’s more, Sum Studios will eventually open up into our beautiful Heeley Peoples Park via a new entrance onto Anns Road.

So this is the next chapter in the life of this school, which has been at the heart of our community for over a century. We want to fill it with life again – help us to create a beautifully busy, unique space that’s open to all!