Community hall and nursery at St Clements Church Hall, Urmston, Manchester

“Change of use from Use Class F1 (public hall) to a mixed use of Use Classes F1, F2(b) (community halls and meeting places) and E(f) (non-residential creche, day centre or nursery) to allow use by community groups and the provision of a pre-school nursery for 30no children.”

“The application site consists of the existing Church Hall and its associated curtilage, the Church Hall being a modest single-storey brick built, flat roof building currently used as EXECUTIVE SUMMARY”

“The application relates to the existing St Clements Church Hall, off Manor Avenue in Urmston. Consent is sought for the change of use from Use Class F1 (which includes a public hall) to a mixed use comprising Use Classes F1, F2(b) (community halls and meeting places) and E(f) (non-residential creche, day centre or nursery) to allow use by community groups and the provision of a pre-school nursery for up to 30no children.”

“The submission of the application follows an Enforcement complaint in July 2024 that the church hall was operating as a nursery, without the benefit of planning consent. Following further investigation, it was established that the church hall was intending to incorporate a nursery use but the use has not yet been implemented. As such, the current planning application was submitted for the change of use.”

“The proposed development would provide additional early years facilities, providing a community benefit to the local area, whilst also retaining the existing community/public hall use. In this respect, it is considered that the proposals would be in line with PfE Policy JP-P5 and policies in the NPPF.”

“The Council’s Environmental Health (Nuisance) Section has raised no objections in relation to potential noise impacts and, subject to appropriate conditions, it is considered that there would be no unacceptable impact on the amenity of nearby residential properties. In addition, the LHA has raised no objections and, subject to appropriate conditions, it is considered that there would be no unacceptable parking or highways impacts.”

“No objections subject to conditions including restricting the use to exclude other Class E uses, limiting the use to a maximum of 30 children, a condition restricting the overall hours of use of the building to 0700 to 2300 hours on Monday to Saturday and 0700 to 2200 hours on Sundays and Bank Holidays, a condition restricting hours of waste collections to 0700 to 1900 hours on Monday to Saturday and at no time on a Sunday or Bank Holiday, and a condition to ensure…”

“No objections, subject to conditions requiring compliance with the submitted Travel Plan and the provision of cycle parking.”

“- The building is not suitable, from a safeguarding perspective, to allow for a pre- school of 30no children and is dirty, unsafe and does not have adequate hygiene or catering facilities. - Work has already started. - Loss of existing classes will be a big loss to the community and the social wellbeing of current attendees. - It would not be possible or reasonable to expect existing hirers to find another venue at the appropriate times.”

“- Existing blind spot at access could result in injury to unsupervised young children. - The width of the road is only suitable for 1 vehicle at a time, and vehicles parked in the road would cause access restrictions for the refuse collection trucks. - The entrance and exit from the Hall is unsuitable for 30no children and would result in increased levels of traffic. - Will be an impact on parking spaces and access for residents of the adjacent flats.”

“RESOLVED: That planning permission be granted subject to the conditions now determined with an additional condition as follows:”

“(10) Within three months of the first use of the Class E (f) element of the building, an additional Travel Plan report, which should include measurable targets and details of ongoing monitoring for reducing car travel, shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority in-line with the Travel Plan Actions and Measures outlined on page 11 of the submitted Travel Plan (dated June 2025).”