Plans for a new day nursery in Penrith which could accommodate up to 80 children have been given the go-ahead.
Westmorland and Furness Council has approved a planning application from Atkinson Building Contractors to build a day nursery and pre-school in Eden Business Park after the Environment Agency withdrew their objection.
Initially the Environment Agency objected to the plans as the proposed nursery is within 20 metres of Thacka Beck flood storage basin so the proposals were delegated to development management by the Eden local area planning committee to approve once a resolution with the body was reached.
In documents submitted on April 2 the Environment Agency said: “We have reviewed the submitted updated site levels plan and consider that it satisfactorily addresses our earlier concerns. We therefore withdraw our objection to this application.”
The proposed nursery will have a ratio of one member of staff to four children and it is planned it will open from 8am to 6pm. Planning documents add the proposed development will create 20 new jobs in the area.
According to a report prepared for the planning committee, the economic regeneration and development team at the council are supportive of the plans and state: “This is a much-needed facility in Penrith due to the expansion of free working hours by the Government increasing demand and there are already waiting lists at existing facilities.
“The proposal will create new jobs and facilitate parents who wish to return to work by ensuring that additional childcare places are available in the town.”
A design and access statement added Penrith’s existing day nursery provision was already at capacity before the roll-out of the Government’s expansion of free child-care in September.
Planning documents said the nursery would operate a staggered timetable ensuring that children are dropped off in intervals, with additional staggered pick-ups and drop offs at lunch times and throughout the afternoon.
The proposed nursery will be built in the north-eastern corner of Eden Business Park and the building will measure approximately 19.7m in width, 12.6m in length and 7.95m in height to the roof ridge.
The report by planning officers concluded: “Whilst the nursery / preschool would employ a small number of people, it is not primarily an employment use, and as such is contrary to the Local Plan employment land allocation.
“That notwithstanding, the benefit of providing an additional important local service to the community which is in line with the Governments recent expansion of free childcare funding is deemed to outweigh the harm and an exception to policy is considered acceptable in this circumstance.”
