A thriving & outstanding Lancashire nursery is told whether it can expand

A proposal by Prosperity Children’s Care Services to add the single-storey building to the Greenview Nursery in the Greenfields Community Centre in Green Lane has been granted planning permission.

A Blackburn with Darwen Council planning officer’s report recommending approval with three conditions says: “This application seeks to erect a small extension on an area of existing “garden” (which is predominantly hard standing), to the rear of the existing building, for additional accommodation to existing children’s nursery.

“The proposal would not affect the existing car park to the other side of the building (32 spaces).

“According to the Design and Access Statement Greenview Nursery is an Ofsted Outstanding provider (inspection February 2022) delivering high-quality early years education and childcare to local families.

“The nursery currently operates at capacity, with 45 registered places, and maintains a waiting list due to strong demand.

“The proposed development will provide an additional 42 square metre single-storey room, designed to accommodate 14 extra childcare places per session, increasing overall capacity to 59 children.

“The extension will enable the nursery to continue meeting local need, supporting families with children across multiple age groups, while strengthening the sustainability of the community centre.

“The existing facility provides undoubted social benefit, and the applicant has explained that the nursery provides a secure income for Greenfields Community Centre Ltd to operate the centre, without which they might struggle to survive as other income streams are limited.

“The centre is therefore able to provide other space and activities for the community, which might otherwise struggle to find affordable and accessible venues in which to operate.

“Whilst the council’s education team questioned the need for increase in nursery provision in the wider area, the nursery manager has indicated that they are turning down three to five customers per day due to current capacity.

“The nursery is a well-established, valued community facility, and the extension directly supports local families who are currently struggling to secure places.

“The increase in capacity would strengthen early-years provision in the area, contributing to children’s development, school readiness and family stability.

“The scheme also supports local employment, both in terms of safeguarding existing roles and creating additional jobs as capacity grows.

“The proposed extension would be a small subordinate extension to the existing building.

“The external elevations would comprise profiled metal sheeting, in a pattern/colour to match the existing community centre, ensuring visual coherence.”