Shropshire primary school given approval for nursery extension to cope with demand

A primary school has been given permission to build an extension to expand its nursery provision.

Woore Primary School applied to Shropshire Council earlier this year for a single-storey extension of its nursery.

The proposal will see the nursery space expanded from 28sq m to 52 sq m and was put forward “to address growing pupil demand”, while also “enhancing associated internal and external facilities”.

A planning report approving the application explains that the expansion would help the community.

It states: “The proposal would provide improved nursery accommodation within an existing educational setting and would support the continued delivery of early years education within the local community.”

But, in approving the application the council has dismissed the concerns of a neighbour over loss of privacy.

The report prepared by the planning department summarises the worries, saying: “The proposed extension would be located in close proximity to the neighbouring property and is considered to result in a significant loss of privacy to the garden and principal living room through increased overlooking from facing windows.”

Explaining the reason for rejecting the concerns, it states: “Concern has been raised by an adjoining neighbour that the proposed extension would result in a significant loss of privacy to their rear garden and living room.

“The existing nursery building is positioned at a slight angle to the shared boundary, with two west-facing windows located approximately 5.7m and 6.3m from the boundary and a glazed access door approximately 7.0m away.

“The proposed extension would be positioned slightly closer to the boundary, although will only incorporate two windows positioned approximately 3.9m and 5.7m from the boundary.

“A 1.8m high close-boarded fence runs along the shared boundary and provides substantial screening of the openings with only the top proportion of the window being visible.

“In addition, the extension would remain approximately 11.8m from the rear elevation of the neighbouring dwelling.

“Having regard to the existing situation, together with the separation distances and boundary screening, the proposal is not considered to result in any significant overlooking or loss of privacy.”

A design and access statement from the applicants had described the ambitions for the project, saying: “The extension has been carefully designed to integrate with and complement the existing nursery accommodation, creating a logical and efficient internal arrangement.

“The proposal provides clearly defined spaces including dedicated entrance areas, sanitary facilities, sleeping facilities and teaching space.

The report approving the application states: “The proposed layout, design and scale of the extensions would be acceptable to this existing character of the building and would not result in any detrimental impact from overlooking or loss of privacy, cause an overbearing impact or result in loss of light.”