Delay over demolition plan for former nursery

A decision over demolishing an empty West Bromwich nursery to make way for new flats has been delayed.

The former Joyful Children’s Nursery in Old Meeting Street, West Bromwich, which closed in 2022, would be demolished to make way for six flats.

Sandwell Council’s planning committee was due to decide on the application last month but the item was pulled from the agenda at the last minute over concerns from senior council planner William Stevens.

The council’s planning department had already recommended approving the work in a report published ahead of the meeting.

The planning application asked for permission to demolish the former nursery, listed as Athol House, to make way for six two-bed flats in a new two-storey building.

The report said the new building would be a “betterment.”

“The conservation and heritage officer has reviewed the amended proposal and has no objections,” the planning report said.

“The architect has ensured that as many of the significant features of the original building as possible are being incorporated into the design particularly at the front elevation.”

However, Mr Stevens said he was concerned the new building would cause a “terracing effect” with neighbouring buildings. The application would instead be decided using delegated powers when new designs were submitted, the senior planning officer said.

The nursery closed after a long list of concerns were raised in inadequate-rated inspections by education watchdog Ofsted.

The nursery, previously named Bundles of Joy, received its third inadequate rating in a row from Ofsted in 2019 before being re-named  Joyful Children’s Nursery in 2021.

Joyful Children’s Nursery was registered in January 2021 and rated as ‘requires improvement’ in every category by October.

The nursery was inspected again in April 2022 and rated inadequate across the board.

The report said the nursery’s managers did not make sure the building was secure at all times which meant children could leave unsupervised or unauthorised people could enter.

The nursery also failing to ensure staff were suitable for roles and had up-to-date knowledge of safeguarding issues in order to identify signs of abuse and neglect.

Ofsted said the nursery said learning for children was “poor” and the nursery lacked stimulation – particularly for younger children who struggled to engage and would often become bored and wander the room aimlessly.

The quality of provision at the nursery had “decreased significantly” since the previous 2021 inspection, Ofsted said, and the nursery’s management had failed to meet their statutory requirements and the quality of care and education was “inadequate.”

“Managers fail to ensure that the premises remain safe and suitable for children,” the Ofsted report said. “They do not notice that the entrance door has been left unlocked, which has an impact on children’s safety.

“Some areas of the nursery are dirty and there is an accumulation of waste behind radiator covers, including pieces of food, wrappers and cutlery.”

By Christian Barnett | Local Democracy Reporting Service