The site of Stansted’s former youth centre has been sold and is set to be developed into a children’s nursery.
Busy Bees Nurseries Ltd and Riverstone Developments have submitted an application to Uttlesford District Council seeking change of use of the former 18th-century school building that became the village youth centre until the service relocated to Chapel Hill last year.
Essex County Council (ECC) put it up for sale for £800,000 in the autumn and revealed this week that it had now been sold.
A council spokesperson said: “The Stansted Mountfitchet Youth Centre building was sold last week to a private firm.
“We understand the site will be redeveloped and, subject to the relevant planning permissions, could become a nursery.
“The funds raised by Essex County Council via the sale will be reinvested into public services.”
Stansted Parish Council will consider the application at its meeting at the Mountfitchet Exchange on Wednesday evening (June 12) along with plans for a refuse store, cycle store and reconfiguration of the car park.
It will also take into account concerns raised by residents living nearby, who while not opposed to the change of use, have voiced fears about increased traffic and parking in an already congested area.
“Our concern with this application is the volume of traffic. This part of Lower Street has residents’ parking which means the road is only wide enough for one car, so if cars are leaving after drop-off and other cars are arriving, there is no room to pass. This is going to cause chaos right through the village,” said a High Lane resident.
“Parking in the area is already at its utmost limits, especially with the pub a few doors down. Resident parking for the cottages adjacent to this site is already overcrowded. Although the empty dwelling would be good to be in use the parking situation needs to be thought of thoroughly,” commented a Lower Street resident.
Calls have been made for ECC to reinstate existing but worn double yellow lines, extending them beyond the brook to enable room for turning and for the car park layout to be “properly marked out to encourage orderly parking and space utilisation”.
The site comprises two detached buildings covering 5,687sq ft (528 sq m) and currently has 17 car parking spaces.
In a planning statement submitted on behalf of the applicants to Uttlesford District Council, which as the planning authority will decide on the proposals, it said Busy Bees had chosen the location due to growing demand for a children’s nursery in the village.
It would have room to accommodate up to 80 children aged 0-five, with 21-23 staff.
“Currently the only options for parents are pre-schools or nurseries that are open in term time only. Consequently, many parents need to travel to places like Bishop's Stortford to find a full-time, all-year round nursery facility for their children.
“As a purpose-built school, the former youth centre provides the perfect opportunity to bring Busy Bees to Stansted. Importantly, it ensures this site continues to serve as a community facility and retains the historic educational purpose.”