Dorset Council (Former East Dorset District): Matt has recently secured consent for the change of use of two first-floor flats from residential to a commercial Class E use, associated with an existing ground floor children’s day nursery. In addition, retrospective permission has been secured for the external play area and revised parking arrangements.
The existing Happy Feet Nursery currently occupies the ground floor of the property, with an external amenity space and car park already in place. The approved expansion will enable the nursery to increase its capacity to 45 children, providing much-needed additional childcare spaces for the local community.
During the application process, we worked closely with the local planning authority to demonstrate that the proposal represents a sustainable form of development within an established urban area. The Council agreed that the principle of expanding the nursery in this location was acceptable. To address potential concerns around traffic and parking, we provided detailed evidence of traffic movements showing that:
- Not every child arrives by car – many families walk or cycle to the nursery.
- Staff do not park on site, reducing overall on site parking demand.
- We provided a dedicated pedestrian entrance to the site and marked off pedestrian path, further improving pedestrian safety.
Furthermore, the site benefits from easy access by bike, supported by the recently installed cycle lanes that are now ever so common across the Wimborne, Bournemouth and Poole area! Both the planning and highways officers confirmed they had no objections to the proposal, concluding that it would not cause any material harm to the transport network or neighbouring residents.
This successful outcome supports the ongoing provision of high-quality early years education and contributes to the local economy by improving employment opportunities. We’re delighted to have played a role in helping this valued local nursery grow and continue to support families in the community.