Warrington nursery gets underway

Main contractor Whitfield & Brown has begun work on site to build the Stepping Stones Day Nursery in Great Sankey, Warrington, a £1.9m contract.

The purpose-built 7,900 sq ft nursery will sit next to the entrance of Lingley Mere Business Park, replacing an existing Stepping Stones nursery at the site, and provide 110 places for children aged 0-5 years.

It will be run by owner-operator Stepping Stones Nurseries Group, which manages a portfolio of other nurseries across the UK, and construction is due to complete in February 2022.

The two-storey facility is intended to increase the capacity of the current nursery at the site and provide a high-quality learning environment. Designed by architect Grated Apple, it will feature a bespoke ‘sensory room’ and four individual classrooms on the ground floor, with access to secure outdoor play areas.

The nursery will also provide easy access from the main road and private parking for parents, preventing them from having to use the existing Lingley Mere staff parking facilities.

Stepping Stones director Neil Ritchie said: “[We’re] delighted that work has now commenced on site for our long-awaited new nursery at Lingley Mere. The current nursery, which is the longest running nursery for the group, opened in 1996 and has provided outstanding childcare to local children since then.

“Our investment into this new facility shows our commitment to the local community, and we are excited to see its construction progress over the coming year.

The wider Great Sankey area has seen extensive residential development in recent years and the need for local childcare and nursey provision has increased, the company said.

Nigel Welch, contracts manager at Whitfield & Brown, added: “As a local business, we are privileged to be collaborating on a scheme that will bring such rewards to parents within the neighbourhood.”