Cannock adult day centre set to be converted into nursery

Planning permission was granted in 2013 to convert ground floor office space at Walsall Road, Bridgtown. The site was most recently used as an Age UK adult day centre, a report to Cannock Chase Council’s planning committee said.

On Wednesday (July 2), committee members agreed to remove a condition of the 2013 planning consent which restricted change of use, to enable the site to be used as a nursery. There have been no objections raised to the proposal.

A design and access statement submitted as part of the latest application said: “The nursery will provide care for up to 20 children, creating a valuable community resource that supports local families and contributes to the local economy by enabling parents to return to work. Staffordshire County Council in their Childcare Sufficiency Report 22-23 show a potential significant shortage of childcare places in the Cannock area.

“Since that report there has been government funding introduced extending the hours offered to working parents and in September 2025 this is further extended. This will only exacerbate the shortage of nursery provision in the Cannock area, such provision is essential so that working families can work.

“Staffordshire Education Early Years are delighted at the prospect of the nursery as the area is designated as an area of deprivation for early years and school places. More children need to be in nursery places.

“The outside play area has been in existence for over 10 years and was used by the previous day care centre for elderly visitors, many with dementia. It is very small and only able to accommodate a maximum of 10 children who would play outside between the hours of 10.30am and 3pm, weather permitting.

“The site currently benefits from 26 onsite parking spaces, which were deemed sufficient for the previous day care centre use. The day care centre users were largely dropped off at the same time, whereas the nursery users will be staggered.”