Nursery plans lodged for Easton village hall near Norwich

Easton Parish Council is hoping to transform the building in Marlingford Road into a purpose-built space for Treetops Nursery - which currently shares a site with St Peters' Primary School. 

The former village hall in Easton (Image: Google Maps)

Bosses have said the decision to repurpose the building is a "strategic one" which aims to utilise the "site's inherent strengths to benefit the community further". 

Parish council vice-chairman Peter Milliken told planners at South Norfolk Council (SNC): "With Easton experiencing expansion through new housing developments, the decision ... becomes a logical response to address the burgeoning demand for childcare services.

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"The move not only accommodates the current strain on nursery spaces but also positions the nursery strategically to cater the needs of the community's growing population."

It is understood the scheme would increase the capacity of the nursery by 57pc.

Vice chairman of Easton Parish Council, Peter Milliken (Image: Newsquest)

When asked for further details on the cost of the project, the parish council declined to comment. 

The plans come amid a dispute between the parish council and SNC over the funding of a new community centre - which is being built further along Marlingford Road, at the junction with Hall Road.

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SNC bosses rejected the parish council's application for £500,000 of additional funding after delays and soaring inflation pushed the cost of the building up from £1.5m to more than £2.5m.

Mr Milliken subsequently blasted SNC's leadership, arguing the decision had put the project "in serious jeopardy".

Leader of South Norfolk Council, John Fuller (Image: Rose Sapey)

The parish council has since applied to borrow £500,000 from the Public Works Loan Board to help complete works. 

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SNC leader John Fuller hit back at Mr Milliken, arguing: "Local councils provided two-thirds of the projected cost of the building with a series of grants totalling £1m towards the £1.5m cost.

"The project has been managed by the parish council but it has been allowed to run £1m over budget."

The parish precept for council tax in Easton is set to increase by 3pc, which equates to £1.28 a month per household - though the parish council states this is not related to its borrowing.

The new multi-million pound community centre in Easton (Image: Patrick May KMC Consulting Ltd)