Planning Support Statement
Conversion of the upper level of Little diamonds to exercise /play space
The Building that is Diamond house has been subject to a number of planning applications in recent times. The area subject to this application is a smaller unit at the North end of Diamond house, accessed from Demense Road.
The initial approval on this site – ref 13 /00633/B, was for a combined use of the same site at 2 levels for Childcare nursery and a dance / exercise space, with the Nursery facility being at the upper level.
A decision was taken to move the Nursery facility to the ground floor which led to the most recent application for retrospective approval of the childcare Nursery facility at ground floor. (14/01227/B). At that time the upper level was to be left as a vacant / loft type space.
This application is for the expansion into that loft space for the use of both the Nursery and Gym facilities – at different times.
The space is to allow the children to have free play – with outdoor type toys – ride on cars / trucks / bike scooters etc, during the day time. This will be between the hours of 8am and 6pm – the existing Nursery times and be accessed from the entrance lobby at the front of the existing building.
The space can then be used of an evening for dance / exercise classes as the need arises. Both businesses will have controlled access to the space – with protected escape route as require by building control.
The use of the space with be managed by the staff teams form both businesses.
The number of children attending the nursery is not intended to increase as the lower level is the primary nursery space. Therefore the vehicular and pedestrian traffic will remain as the current level.
Should the exercise classes expand to use this space – this would only be in the evening, so the local parking (permit / disc) areas will not be in force.
Additionally – the spaces identified for the Nursery use, will be vacant as that business will have closed for the day.
It has previously been acknowledged that there is sufficient parking in the locality of the evening operation of the gym facility, in the on street and off street areas of this and other business. The nature of this parking use will be short term as the classes are typically 45mins long.
