TUCKED away down a side street, with boarded-up windows and a grimy frontage in need of attention there is little to make you give this uninspiring building a second glance.

But here, at Stag Works, lies the heart of Sheffield's music scene, the place where the destiny of bands such as Def Leppard and the Arctic Monkeys was shaped.

It's also home to a diverse smattering of small businesses, from engineers to a jeweller, a wedding dress firm and even a jukebox company.

Threats of development and noise complaints from residents of new flats nearby, along with its run-down condition had combined to give the John Street building near Bramall Lane an uncertain future.

It is in desperate need of investment - it needs rewiring, re-roofing and the installation of inside toilets just to bring it up to 21st century standards.

Now a consortium headed by the Ethical Property Company, which already runs the Scotia Works next to the Leadmill, hopes to buy Stag Works.

It is in talks with owners City Estates to take on the site and is bidding for up to £3.5 million of Government grants, handed out through the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative, to pay for the improvements.

If the takeover and refurbishment goes ahead, existing tenants and the famous music studios and rehearsal rooms would be retained. Work would be carried out over the next two years.

Alan Deadman, who runs music promotion business Dubcentral from Stag Works and is involved with the redevelopment consortium, said: "The main problems are leaking roofs, lack of heating and no indoor loos.

"Vandalism costs £10,000 to £15,000 a year. It used to be mainly window-smashing but that's died down. Now the problems are junkies coming in or people sneaking inside to have a drink or set off the fire alarm.
"We want them to put in security and a building manager who would be based on site.

"The other thing is that the music people in the building hold workshops for young people but the works are not quite suitable in terms of health and safety."

Alan - a tenant of 10 years - is keen for the building to retain its current status and character despite the proposed revamp.

He said: "We don't want it turning into a trendy place with people in suits, like the Workstation, it's got to stay real."

The future of the building was discussed at a meeting between Stag Works tenants, the Ethical Property Company, its consultants and Sheffield Council cabinet member for economic development and enterprise, Coun Sylvia Dunkley.

Alan said: "About 60 people attended so they could meet the potential new owners."

He said the Ethical Property Company - which runs 12 buildings in the UK as social enterprises - came across as "very much about working with tenants".

The regeneration scheme is broadly supported by firms at the site, which also include Elm Lane Tool and Die Company - a machining company which has been based there since 1969.

The firm has a special place in the building's recent history.
By night, its workshop became an unlikely practise room for Def Leppard in the 1970s after drummer Rick Allen's dad Geoff, who worked there, persuaded his bosses to allow the band in.

James Walker, aged 67, a partner in the company, remembers those days - but sad: "I didn't hear them, they only practiced after we went home."
Asked about the redevelopment, James said: "I'm pleased the building is set to stay."

Other famous parts of Stag Works include the 2Fly studio - in a ground-floor outbuilding within the central courtyard.

Alan said: "It's been used by Richard Hawley, and the Arctic Monkeys recorded their demos here in 2005. The studio's run by Alan Smyth and Alex Turner first came asking if he could record with another band but Alan wasn't all that impressed.

"Alex told him about the Arctic Monkeys and suggested he might want to listen to them instead - and the rest is history. Alan's mate Geoff Barrowdale, who used to be in a band with him, was also at the Stag Works and ended up becoming the Arctics' manager.

"It all just proves the value of having local music people together under one roof."

There are a total of 12 studios at Stag Works and some are still used by famous names. Up to 40 bands a week rehearse and record, Alan says, including Reverend and the Makers, 65 Days of Static and electro band Hiem.