Lancashire nursery and childcare club operating without permission for more than a decade
The owner of an Oswaldtwistle nursery school and childcare club which has been operating without full and proper planning approval has asked Hyndburn Council for permission to continue.
Mrs Laura Harrison from Waddington has applied for a Lawful Development Certificate so this can happen.
She says the former Stanhill Works site in Tennyson Avenue has been operating successfully as the Early Start Nursery and associated before/after school childcare club for long enough for the backdated authorisation to be granted.
A supporting statement submitted to Hyndburn Council says: “The application is made on the basis that the building known as Early Start Nursery has been used as a nursery school and before and after school childcare club for a continuous period in excess of 10 years.
“The application is made on behalf of the owners of the building.
“The site comprises a part two-storey, part one and a half storey building with a playground enclosed by a fence and wall on the north side of the building, a car park and further playgrounds enclosed by fences on the south side of the building.
“By the April 16 2007 the work to convert part of the building to a day nursery, the creation of the car park on the south side of the building, the play areas on the north and south sides of the building were complete.
“The building was in use as a day nursery for nought to five-year-olds.
“Two areas of outdoor play space were created on the south side of the building in January 2008. Additional space for the nursery was created by expanding into part of the ground floor and first floor of the existing building and became operational in May 2009.
“The adaptation of part of the building to create a before and after school club for five to eight-year-olds was completed, and the facility opened in September 2012.
“By 2012 the Early Start Nursery and the Fun Start before and after school club were fully operational.
“On roll within the nursery and after school club combined are 180 children, the maximum present on any one day being 120.
“There are currently 28 staff.
“The breach of planning control in this case is the change of use of the building to a nursery school and before and after school childcare club and associated work.
“We have provided evidence above to show that the building has been occupied continuously as a nursery school and before and after school childcare club from 2012 until today.
“As this Early Start Nursery, Tennyson Avenue, Oswaldtwistle is a continuous period in excess of ten years the use of the building as a nursery school and before and after school childcare club is now immune from enforcement and is lawful.
“The applicants have not deliberately concealed the unauthorised occupation of the building as a nursery school and after school childcare club.”