Parents want more from centres

PARENTAL expectations are leading to a transformation in the childcare centre sector with a wave of state-of-the-art new and redeveloped properties in the pipeline.

CBRE associate director City Sales Tom O’Driscoll said speculation that one of property’s hottest sectors will be cooled by a glut of development approvals for new centres was “crystal ball gazing”.

“But this speculation is a reflection of people’s keen interest to get into this growing sector and you wonder how many of the DAs will actually come off. Demand will always meet supply,” he said.

“But what we are sure of is that there’s a real change in what parents expect from a childcare centre and operators.

“In the past childcare centres were more weighted towards a babysitting option. But now with the female workforce growing at a huge rate and demand is increasing we’re seeing a real drive towards education based learning.

“So childcare centres are becoming architectural masterpieces.”