An abandoned ex-nursery is set to be turned into a shared house with up to ten bedrooms. The plans to convert what had once been the family owned L'ecole des Enfants nursery on Bolton Road, Kearsley into a house in multiple occupation were first lodged in October last year. There are also plans for up to five parking spaces at what will be the new shared house.
Cllr Debbie Newall, of Kearsley, said: "HMOs like this are always a concern to residents as they worry about the effect on the locality, but I am more than happy to work with both residents and the owners if necessary to deal with any problems that may arise in the future. “Parking is a massive issue for the residents of Park View, at the rear of this property and also that part of Bolton Road but I believe that this property has designated parking spaces which have been considered in the planning report.” The plans have now been approved (Image: HAD & Co) The house had previously been converted from a manse, a home for certain kinds of religious ministers, into a children’s day nursery in 2008.
More recently a scheme had been put forward to transform the building into a sanctuary family assessment centre, which did not come to fruition. Bolton Council officials approved the most recent proposal to transform the former nursery into a shared house after concluding it would not have an “undue” effect in the area’s character. This was despite 10 letters of objection having been sent in from people living nearb.