Green light for plans to construct new village nursery
PLANS to create an outdoor nursery in Bradnop have been approved.
Planners at Staffordshire Moorlands District Council have given the go ahead for the development at Six Oaks Farm, located in Apesford Lane.
The application, submitted by Kirsty Nelson of Flying High Outdoor Nursery, involves the change of use of the site to an “outdoor children’s nursery” which would include a timber summer-house, two tents, an outdoor kitchen area, a toilet shed and rock circle with fire pit.
It would be accessed via a gate off a post-and-rail fence along the edge of the nature trail path connected to the car park which would be used for drop-off and pick-up purposes by parents. There would be a capacity of 15 children between the ages of two and five. There would be up to four staff and the nursery would operate all year round between 8.30am and 5.30pm Monday to Friday with dropoff and pick-up times between 8am and 9am and 3pm to 5.30pm. The nursery would be in line with the “Forest Schools” concept.
A delegated decision report by planning officer, Chris Johnston, said: “New business or community uses involving new buildings would normally be expected to be located within towns, larger villages or in areas allocated for such purposes. However, the proposed outdoor nursery is in line with some of the aims of Policy SS6C (the strategic policy for the countryside) and Policy SS7 (the strategic policy for the Churnet Valley) in that it would make some contribution to the local rural economy and rural communities.
“The only new buildings proposed would include a timber summer house and a toilet shed, both low key structures, with other items being of a temporary nature (e.g. tents).
“The Forest Nursery concept aims to connect children to nature which brings physical, mental and educational benefits as well as providing a nursery and childcare facility. It helps to widen the choice for parents requiring childcare facilities and the ethos appears to be popular.
“More than 50 letters of support have been received locally. The RSPB as land owner supports the proposal in helping to connect children to nature (one of its aims as a society) as well as gaining some income to help the continued management of the Nature Reserve which is recognised as a visitor hub in the Churnet Valley Masterplan and therefore plays a contribution towards the tourism aims of the Masterplan, which specifically requires improvements to the Nature Reserve.
“The Masterplan also requires improved signage to the Nature Reserve from Leek and Cheddleton to help boost visitor numbers and the presence of a nursery here would potentially introduce more people to the visitor attraction.
“I consider it important that due to the rural and unsustainable location, a condition is added to limit the nursery to 15 children and four staff.
“With regard to highway safety, no objection has been raised by Staffordshire County Council and no conditions recommended. The car park is capable of accommodating staff parking as well as brief drop off and pick up vehicles.
“The proposal would not harm the character and appearance of the countryside due to the high level of tree and hedge screening and the lowkey nature of the buildings/structures provided.
“It would be well screened from road and public footpaths, only visible from the nature trail. From the car park, the summer house would be seen against the much larger RSPB craft building.”