Plan for new nursery fails to clear parking and flooding ‘hurdles’

Councillors in Newport have reluctantly turned down a proposal for a new children’s nursery in Lliswerry, largely over safety concerns.

Members of the council’s planning committee agreed there was a need for more childcare providers – but decided the application had failed to include some key paperwork.

Applicant T Newberry’s proposals involved changing the use of the property at 100 Somerton Road – which was previously a post office and most recently a hair salon – into a nursery for young children.

A previous bid for planning permission was refused in 2025.

Speaking at a committee meeting, on Wednesday August 5, case officer Vicky Quinn said the proposed nursery would open between 7.30am and 5pm, with meals delivered to the premises.

Younger children would be looked after on the first floor, and those aged three and over would be on the ground floor.

Ms Quinn said the surrounding area was “predominantly residential” and the building was next to a home, meaning residential amenity was a “key consideration”.

She said the proposed new use of the property could result in a “significantly greater degree of noise and disturbance”, and there would also likely be many vehicle drop-offs and pick-ups at the venture.

The level of local parking provision was “unclear” but planners anticipated parents would likely use Kitty Hawk Drive, which was judged to be “not wide enough to allow parking on both sides” – an issue which “may lead to stopping on the corners”.

Ms Quinn also said the opening of a nursery would turn the property into a “high-risk development” on flooding grounds.

But she said the plans had “merit”, and the applicant had advised there was local demand for an early-years nursery.

Cllr James Peterson, speaking in support of the application, said there was a need for more childcare provision, but also accepted there were some planning obstacles.

Members of the committee agreed and were sympathetic to the general principle of opening a new nursery.

“I love the idea of new businesses and new life coming into communities”, said Cllr Will Routley, but added he believed there were “too many hurdles to jump” to approve the application in its current condition.

Cllr John Jones said committee members “like to encourage businesses in Newport”, but added children’s safety should be prioritised.

Cllr Mark Howells agreed there was “no doubt a nursery in that area… is wanted and needed by residents”.

The committee’s chairman, Cllr John Reynolds, said: “We want to support businesses, especially childcare – it’s much needed.

“It’s got to be the right business in the right place, and it’s got to be safe.”

A majority of committee members voted to turn down planning permission, in line with the officers’ recommendation.