Plans for a new day nursery in Penrith which could accommodate up to 80 children have taken a major step forward.
Members of Eden local area planning committee for Westmorland and Furness Council delegated authority to development management for plans from Atkinson Building Contractors to build a day nursery and pre-school in Eden Business Park.
Development management will approve the application once a resolution with the Environment Agency is reached after the body objected to the plans as the proposed nursery is within 20 metres of Thacka Beck flood storage basin.
Mark Lynch, development management officer, said the issues raised should be straightforward to resolve.
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 is ‘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 concludes: “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.”
Members of Eden local area planning committee delegated final approval of the planning application on March 13 at Penrith Town Hall.
