Grand plan to save dance and drama group’s listed building

Simon Delaney from DMP and Barbara Dawson, manager at NAPA

A listed performing arts building is getting a second chance following advice and support from a chartered building surveyor.

The home of Northern Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA), a Grade II listed building on Anlaby Road in Hull, has started to reveal some structural issues.

But an asset management plan will enable NAPA to budget and plan for building maintenance costs which will allow the school to remain open to students during extensive building works.

While the drama and dance school is attracting hundreds of students each week, the not-for-profit company thought it could not sustain the inevitable costs associated with the building’s maintenance requirements.

To deal with structural issues at the 110-year-old building, Delaney Marling Partnership (DMP) produced a ten-year property asset management plan which includes a survey and a structured maintenance plan. Barbara Dawson, manager at NAPA, said: “I have been greatly concerned about the building as it appeared the maintenance costs might exceed our income and that we may have to close whilst the building works were undertaken.

“Now, having sought advice from the experts, my mind has eased and I can now focus teaching our students, safe in the knowledge that we can remain open for the foreseeable future.”

Simon Delaney, from DMP, said: “We have spent a lot of time within the building and around the staff and students and there is a strong sense of pride in what they do within the community.”