A NURSERY based at a former primary school could be set to expand.

A planning application has been submitted for the extension of the Kids Nursery based on the site of the former Chineham Park Primary School building, off of Shakespeare Road, Basingstoke.

The nursery began operating out of the site when Sure Start funding ran out to operate the Pebbles Children’s Centre, but demand is now outstripping supply and so the planning application to build an extension has been submitted by Hampshire County Council (HCC).

A supporting statement to the application reads: “Demand for the nursery exceeds the current space in the Sure Start Building and there is the additional pressure of the ‘free 30 hours’ per week of childcare to be provided. The nursery uses former classrooms in the old school building in addition to the Sure Start building.”

The plan is for the extension to allow the nursery to operate from one area of the old school building, rather than across former classrooms This will also allow the capacity of the nursery, which operates from 8am to 6.30pm on weekdays, from 70 children to 90.

The county council believes the extra capacity will not have an overly adverse effect with traffic.

The supporting statement adds: “The expanded nursery building will generate some additional vehicle movements and additional requirement for car parking, however as the site has a total of 67 car parking spaces, it not proposed with this development to provide any more car parking spaces.”

“The 24 car parking spaces currently available adjacent to the nursery are considered adequate for the day-to-day parking requirements of the expanded nursery staff and visitors.”

The building is currently redundant, pending HCC deciding on a new use for the site. The supporting statement adds: “The long term use of the site is under review by the owner, HCC. This review will be the subject of a planning consultation with the aim of bringing forward redevelopment proposals.”

Part of the building also temporarily houses the Spotlight children’s charity.

The application is likely to be decided on by Wednesday, 30 August. To view the proposals and comment, go to planning.basingstoke.gov.uk/online-applications and search for the reference code 17/02779/CONS.

The final decision on the plan will be made by HCC.