Quernmore house approved for conversion into school nursery

The proposal involves the conversion of a small house, attached to Quernmore Church of England Primary School, into a nursery to be operated by the school.

Located in Postern Gate Road, Quernmore, the property is constructed of stone with a natural slate roof and uPVC windows.

The building stands in a relatively isolated rural location within the Parish of Quernmore, with no nearby residential properties.

The application indicates that no external alterations will be made to the property and no outdoor play space is included in the proposal.

The site, within the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, is also designated as open space and is situated within the setting of the Grade II listed St Peter's Church.

The church is located to the northwest of the school and house.

The planning application, which was initially received on June 16, and validated on August 21, has already been permitted.

The nursery will utilise a disused residential property, previously vacant for some time, and will not affect the character or appearance of the building, as no external changes are proposed.

The building's isolated location means the proposal raises no concerns in relation to residential amenity.

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While the exact number of nursery places has not been confirmed, the use is not expected to generate a significant increase in vehicle movements.

The site is close to a bus stop and a small lay-by providing a small amount of parking.

Lancashire County Council Highways raised no objections to the proposal.

The change of use of the building, providing an additional community facility, was deemed acceptable as long as the build does not create any adverse effects.