A new early years nursery will be opening in Paulton within the next two years — after a wait of more than a decade.

Paulton’s former Purnell factory site has seen a large number of homes built, with a planning application to build seventy two more going before Bath and North East Somerset Council’s planning committee on Wednesday, 26th April.

These homes, and those already on the site, will soon be served by a new early years nursery. The nursery will be built just off Oxleaze Way and have spaces for forty eight children, with separate classrooms for children under two, three year-olds, and children aged three to five.

Commenting on the plan as it went through the planning process, the Council’s education services said: “The proposed nursery is needed in this area and was previously included in the development plans for this site when they were initiated more than a decade ago.”

Planning permission was granted for the nursery — and for eight new homes which were also part of Purnell Property Partnership’s application — in December 2022.

On April 11th, the developer entered into a legal agreement with the Council to have the nursery built and operational within two years. 

In their planning application, planning agents said: “The proposal enables the delivery of a much-needed forty eight place nursery and early years facility for Paulton, an area where there are currently insufficient places for both childcare and early years education. The proposal will also enable eight high quality family sized homes.”

The nursery building is planned to be carbon negative and, under the legal agreement made with the Council, should be up and running by April 12th 2025.