PLANS have been put forward to expand a nursery in Cam.

Proposals have been submitted to carry out works at the Co-op Childcare nursery in Woodfield Road.

The planning application — which was submitted last Wednesday, November 13 — includes moving the kitchen into an unused garage space.

If approved, existing playrooms would be increased in size and there would be extra child spaces available.

The works also include removing a garage door, replacing a window and relocating an existing cooker extractor flue.

The nursery, which was first registered in June 2004, is owned by the Midcounties Co-Operative Limited.

The applicant says the scheme, if approved, will benefit the local community.

A planning document reads: “This is a very minor planning application with the only external works being the replacement of the garage door with a new window and low level walling and the slight repositioning of the already approved extraction flue.

“With the benefit to the local area and community of additional nursery childcare spaces it is hoped the LPA can support the application and move to grant planning permission.”

The nursery last received an outstanding result in its latest Ofsted inspection in 2022.

You can view the application quoting S.24/2041/FUL or see here - tinyurl.com/3z7bjrfn

The application comes amid a shortage of nursery places and childminders for pre-school children in the UK.

Children’s charity Coram Family and Childcare revealed in a report that fewer than one out of every three (29 per cent) of councils have enough spaces for children under two — down from 42 per cent last year.

It comes as the Government in England has promised to expand its funded-hours offer.