Working in partnership with Southend-on-Sea council, a former disused library site in Shoebury, Southend-on-Sea has been redeveloped to create a new 50-place nursery school and a housing scheme of 9 homes. This brownfield site was underused and partially vacant but in a prominent location but has been transformed to create a vibrant community space.
The nursery, which completed Autumn 2018, was delivered as part of Southend-on-Sea’s council plans to help meet increased demand for nursery places in the borough.
As part of the scheme, the council also received £330,000 from the Department for Education to enable the new nursery to create 24 new places and extend its current 26 places from part-time to full-time.
Phase two of the project, following the completion of the nursery, will be the construction of nine new homes, which will help to finance the overall project.
The completion of the nursery and new family housing in a sustainable location will be a very welcome development for hard-working parents in the area, who will be able to benefit from the new places and the national 30 hours’ free childcare funding made available by the Government.
Helen Boyd
Councillor, Southend-On-Sea Council