Parents desperate for warehouse to be converted into nursery

By Joe Coughlan, Local Democracy Reporter

Plans for a warehouse to be converted into a nursery have received nearly 150 letters of support online, with one mum saying she will have to “quit her job” if the plans aren’t approved.

Under 1 Roof has submitted plans to Greenwich council to change a warehouse in Armstrong Road in Woolwich into a new nursery.

The plans also include a new outdoor play space. The firm runs a nursery in Skeffington Street in Woolwich, but it is set to move this year.

The plans have attracted 149 letters of support on the council’s planning portal. Jenifer Ordonez, 35, a parent living in Thamesmead, sent her oldest child to the nursery.

She said: “As a parent, and how that will affect childcare in the area, I will have to step away from my job. That means less income, and it puts a burden on my husband. Financially as well, not just for me, I know it will affect the community, people will be jobless.”

Council officers recommended refusing the plans due to the warehouse and jobs at the site being lost with “no acceptable justification”, according to council documents.

They also said changing the site to a nursery would have an “unacceptable impact” on neighbouring warehouses, due to increased noise and traffic in the area.

Matt Milchard, a director and founder of Under 1 Roof, said: “The main loss will be the loss of existing childcare places if the existing nursery is forced to close, not only placing unnecessary strain on local services but will leave numerous families without childcare, in an area where there are no spare places, as evidenced by our waiting list, as well as the knock-on effect upon employment circumstances for parents of, and responsible adults for, the children who will lose their care.”

Mr Milchard said converting the warehouse would not cause any loss in employment, and that refusing the plans would instead cause closure of the current nursery and its existing jobs.

He also said traffic safety in the area would not be badly hit, and that access for people would be separate from vehicles moving on the site.

The plans to convert the warehouse in Armstrong Road into a nursery will be decided at a Greenwich council meeting on Thursday.

Greenwich council declined the offer to comment on the application as it is still live on its planning portal.

Pictured top: The warehouse in Armstrong Road, Woolwich, which Under 1 Roof has submitted plans to convert into a nursery (Picture: Google Street View)