Former Sun Dragon Restaurant to be turned into Jenni's House

Jenni Ringland submitted plans to Rossendale Council on May 19, seeking a lawful proposed change of use certificate so she can turn the Sun Dragon Cantonese Restaurant in Blackburn Road, Acre, into a children and parent facility with learning and playrooms, an ancillary café, book shop and consulting rooms.

A covering letter included with the application reads: “The Sun Dragon is clearly a well-known restaurant which has operated for more than two decades.

“The name of the proposed enterprise will be Jenni’s House, which will be a place for children and their families to enjoy time in relaxed play and social setting, and for parents and children to be supported on their journey from pregnancy to starting school.

“Jenni’s House will be a safe haven where parents can connect with fellow parents-to-be, making friends, building a community and empowering parents to make informed choices.

“It will become a hub for parents to access key services, from midwifery and breastfeeding support, to counselling and speech and language therapy.

“The operation will ensure that parents are armed with the knowledge and confidence to help their children thrive.

“Established in 2021 by former early years teacher, Jenni Ringland, Jenni’s House will provide a new kind of playgroup in Rossendale for zero to five-year-olds, their parents and carers.

“Currently running weekly at Rossendale Sports Club, the playgroup is a welcoming free-play session, filled with quality toys to explore and learn, story and song time, and cakes and drinks for adults and caregivers in a two-hour playgroup session.

“The nature of the group gives parents, grandparents and childminders the chance to chat, share tips and play with their babies in a safe, friendly and inclusive environment.

“Jenni’s House provides pre-natal support through its welcoming Bump Club sessions, offering parents-to-be practical advice and the opportunity to hear from guest speakers - from local yoga and Pilates instructors, midwives, doulas, physiotherapists, hypnobirthing teachers and baby-wearing consultants.

“In the proposed new facility, Jenni’s House intends to offer much-needed post-natal support to families, from those first few early weeks, with lactation consultants and women’s physiotherapists, including workshop topics such as first aid for babies and children, starting solids and support with returning to work.

“The goal is to continue this support of early child development with the addition of services that will guide parents through the first five years of their child’s life, including speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, paediatric physiotherapy and more.

“A small bookshop will be provided. A small café will also be established, where a range of food, cakes and drinks will be on offer.

"The cafe will be open to all members of the public throughout the day as well as those families dropping into playgroup or other events.”

In 2018, the previous owners of the Sun Dragon Restaurant, Mei and John Tang, planned to retire and wanted to demolish the building and replace it with three houses and a bungalow, however this was rejected by the council.

As the change of use applied for falls within the same category as the former restaurant, there were no objections or reasons to refuse a change of use certificate and permission was granted last week.