‘Fantastic’ plans for new homes on former nursery site

Residents in Stapleford say plans for three new homes on a former nursery site in a ‘nice area’ are ‘fantastic’. Plans are proposed for the site of the former Sparkle Daycare Centre in Church Street.

The development involves three new two-bedroom homes, as well as three parking spaces. The plans come after the closure and demolition of the nursery. In April this year residents said they had 'no complaints' about the plan to knock down the nursery for residential use.

Now, the Sparkle Daycare Centre has been demolished and locals think the plans to redevelop the site are ‘fantastic’. Resident Martin Marklew, who has lived in the area for the past six years, says he welcomes the plans for the new homes.

The 44-year-old said: “It was popular, you could hear the children when they were outside. It’s dead now. The noise was a little horrendous when they were knocking it down.

Mr Marklew added: “I’m like that - there’s too many homeless people on the streets - three homes is fantastic. It’s a nice area, trying to get how it used to be, you used to be able to have conversations with each other and leave doors open - more people like that.”

Another Stapleford resident, Dave Watson says the area has facilities suitable for anything to be built on the site. Mr Watson said: “I wouldn’t see a problem with it but it would be nice to see different things done with it, a playground, a community centre kind of thing.

Land of demolished Sparkle Daycare (Nottingham Post)

“It is quite a built-up area, there’s a lot of facilities and on a bus route - it’s suitable for anything. If it is on-road parking it’s an issue. As long as it’s not just expensive housing.”

The former day centre closed after officials from the education watchdog Ofsted carried out an inspection in May last year and found the provider was not meeting some of its requirements. "The overall effectiveness of the provision was judged to be inadequate," an Ofsted report said.

Inspectors did return a few weeks later to check if the providers had met safeguarding and welfare actions raised following the previous inspection. "The provider responded to the actions set. We found that the provider had improved staff knowledge and understanding of child protection procedures and now fully understands their responsibilities to keep children safe from harm," Ofsted said.

The former Sparkle Daycare building in Church Street, Stapleford. (Nottingham Post/Marie Wilson)

Robin Mckenzie said she thinks the plans are good but shows concerns over parking. The 23-year-old chef said: “I think it’s good. I think it was used but I don’t think it was really that popular. I’m not sure about the parking. I think it’s good but parking might be an issue. “

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