Nursery plan for old community centre site in Wolverhampton
A derelict Wolverhampton site which once housed a community centre is set to be redeveloped after plans to build a nursery were approved.
Land on the corner of Ward Grove and Birmingham New Road has been fenced off and empty since the old Lanesfield Community Centre was demolished in 2016.
But a proposal by Great Barr-based HKP Developments Limited to build an 80-place nursery with parking has been given the go ahead by Wolverhampton Council planners.
The community centre was closed by the council in 2014 and then sold to the applicants in 2015.
Planning chiefs at Wolverhampton have welcomed the plan to redevelop the site and said it respected the character and appearance of the surrounding area.
HKP’s agent Surinder Buray said the nursery will operate between 7am to 7pm Monday to Saturday with occasional use on Sundays.
He said: “The building will be used for a children’s nursery with accommodation split between two floors. The ground floor will be entrance waiting and administration area, two playrooms and ancillary services.
"The first floor, staff rest areas together with stores and ancillary areas and playroom with external terrace facing Birmingham New Road.
“The proposed nursery will be complimented with 13 off-street parking spaces for both staff and visitors including a disabled space and an electrical-charging bay for EV vehicles within the staff parking area.
“The play area is located to the north and east of the site within a secure compound and will provide a forest camp theme.”
Charlotte Morrison, section leader for planning, said: “The redevelopment of this prominent site is welcomed.
“The current frontage to the main arterial route is open grassed with some mature protected trees. The proposal appears to maintain this frontage.
“Even though it is only visible through the trees it should make a positive contribution to the street scene.”
