Plans for new Fennies Nursery in Beckenham for 150 children

The proposal submitted to Bromley Council in May involves the development of the site that was the Cyphers Indoor Bowling Club, located in Kings Hall Road, Beckenham.

The proposed new nursery will be a half one-storey, half two-storey building, with car and cycle parking facilities, bin stores, and a mixture of hard and soft landscaping.

Applicant Fennies Nurseries explains in the planning statement that the proposal has two parts to it.

On the one side, Fennies Nursery Beckenham will be relocated from its current site, at 62 Kings Hall Road, to the proposed location, allowing for an increased capacity of up to 150 children in a purpose-built facility.

A CGI shows what the front of the new Fennies Nursery site could look like (Image: Corstophine & Wright)

At the same time, the current Fennies nursery location will be changed back to residential use, creating room for four new homes.

The planned building layout of the new nursery consists of four quadrants, providing classrooms for different age groups, along with a reception area and a ground floor cooking studio.

Each classroom will have its own outdoor play space, as well as its own distinct colour scheme and shape.

Under the plans, the first floor will house a staff room, the manager's office, an art studio and a parent room, while the roof of the nursery will feature a garden.

The proposed new Fennies Nursery building would create 63 jobs, according to the application, compared to the 22 jobs provided by the current location in Kings Hall Road.

Bromley Council denied planning permission for the same site in December 2023, as that application included the building of a new three-storey block of flats, as well as the nursery.

The current Fennies Nursery Beckenham will be converted into four new homes under part of the plans (Image: Google Maps)

However, some neighbours have still objected to this current application, voicing concerns that the levels of noise pollution would be "unacceptable".

One resident said: "The majority of local residents know that there will be a big increase in traffic, noise and pollution caused by this development. 

"Unlike a school where this is respite during the school holidays, the noise levels will be unbearable for 52 weeks of the years."

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One the other hand, the growing demand for nursery places in the area was also recognised by parents.

One parent said: "As a new parent living in Penge, I am in support of this application due to the growing need for nursery places in the area and the difficulty I am facing in finding the places I need on the date I need in order to return to work." 

Neighbours can continue to make comments on the plans, via the planning portal, until June 18.

Bromley council is expected to make a decision on the plans by July 15.