FAQs on the John O'Gaunt Demolition

The building has been empty for a long time and has fallen into disrepair. It is no longer safe or suitable for community use. The Gleadless Valley Regeneration Board has agreed that it should be demolished to make way for something new that better serves the local area.

We want to hear your views. The site will eventually be developed through the regeneration programme, but this will take time. In the meantime, we’re asking residents what should happen temporarily on the land once the building is gone. Your ideas will help shape what goes there over the next few years.

There are four main options for how the space could be used on a temporary basis:

1. Community-managed youth space
   A safe, flexible space for children, teenagers and families, developed with local groups like Happy Saplings and Gleadless Valley Youth Hub. It could include a small indoor unit for group activities or youth sessions, and a secure outdoor area for games and informal socialising. The space would be supervised when in use and designed with local input. It would not include seating left out when the site is not in use, to reduce risk of anti-social behaviour.
2. Grassed open space
   A simple, low-maintenance option. The site would be cleared, levelled and grassed over. This would create a flexible green area that people could use informally, or for community events like small markets or outdoor classes. There would be no seating or equipment left in place, helping to minimise any disruption or misuse of the space.
3. Open-access play area
   A dedicated outdoor play area for children aged 2 to 14. This could include a range of equipment for younger and older children (like swings, climbing frames, or natural features such as logs and boulders), and seating for parents and carers. The aim would be to create a fun, inclusive, and welcoming space for local families. This option would not be supervised, though the site would be maintained by the Council.
4. Community garden or nature space
   A peaceful space for growing, gathering and connecting. This could include raised beds, seating, flowers, trees, bug hotels or nature trails, depending on what the community wants. It could be designed and looked after by local volunteers or groups, with support to help get it started. The aim would be to create a relaxing and positive space that supports health and wellbeing.
5. Something else
   If you have another idea for how the space could be used in the short term, we’d love to hear it. Please tell us in the survey or come along to one of the drop-in events.

You can:

• Attend one of the events being hosted by the 189 Project and complete a paper survey - the first event is on 9th August from 12-4pm
• Complete the survey online using the QR code or link
• Pop into the 189 Project at 187 Blackstock Road (on the Gaunt Shopping Precinct) on Wednesdays from 10am - 3pm and speak to a member of the team

All feedback will be collected over an 8-week period, starting from when the surveys are delivered and the online form goes live.

After this, responses will be reviewed by the Council and the Gleadless Valley Regeneration Board. A decision will be made about how to use the space in the short term, based on what the community tells us.

We’ll then publish a short update to let residents know what was decided and why so you can see how your feedback was used.

There is no fixed date yet, but we’ll keep residents updated.

Before any work can begin there are asbestos, drainage and ecological surveys to be completed. There is a legal requirement to check if there are any bats roosting in the building. If bats are found, they must be safely relocated before demolition can go ahead.

Heras fencing will be erected around the demolition site to create a secure area.

Bringing the pub back into use was explored - but due to its poor condition and significant safety risks, it has been recognised that demolition is the only safe and realistic option. This decision also presents an opportunity to create a positive and improved community space for local people.

The money will cover the cost of the demolition and all or some of the costs of creating a positive and improved community space for local people post demolition.