There is an exciting future ahead for Willow Nursery and Pre-School in Shepton Mallet after plans for a new home in the town were given the green light by Mendip District Council.

A planning application for the change of use of dwellinghouse (Class C3) to state registered nursery and pre school (Class D1) and use of adjacent land for associated access and parking at 1 Charlton Road, Shepton Mallet, was submitted by Willow Nursery and Pre-School Ltd.

The nursery and pre-school currently operates from portable buildings in the grounds of Whitstone School.

The nursery says these temporary buildings are becoming tired and are in need of replacement. It is therefore necessary to move the current facilities to a more permanent home so 1 Charlton Road was purchased with this purpose in mind.

This application will allow Willow Nursery and Pre-School to upgrade its facilities and to develop the level of early years care that it currently provides for the local community.

Willow Nursery and Pre-School has existed since September 2006 when Little Rascals Nursery and Shepton Mallet Pre-School Playgroup merged.

Little Rascals, which was previously known as Mother Goose Nursery, was established in September 1991, and Shepton Mallet Pre-School Playgroup was established in October 1967.

The proposal was a change of use with minimal external changes to the property and the provision of a new access for off-street parking and dropping-off to serve the new facility.

It is planned to demolish a portion of the low boundary wall on Charlton Road in order to facilitate parking access.

The application was amended several times in the interests of ensuring appropriate on-site parking provision and on-site turning, a safe means of access of a gradient no steeper than one in ten, a layout which will safeguard protected trees and landscape improvements.

In approving the plans, the officer's report says: "The proposal is acceptable in principal proposing a beneficial use for Shepton.

"As amended, the scheme now also includes a safe means of access, on-site parking and turning, replacement planting and other landscape improvements."