A PROPOSAL to extend an Andover nursery has been given the green light by planning chiefs.

Plans to build a new classroom and extend an existing one at Humpty Dumpty Playschool, in Monxton Road, were initially submitted to Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) on April 1, before the authority validated the application in August.

Permission was sought to “extend, adapt, refurbish and demolish areas of the existing nursery” ahead of the “installation of a new modular building” at the site.

And the proposal was approved by TVBC on October 1, provided it is carried out in complete accordance with a series of plans submitted in the application.

The proposed work will enable the nursery to not only modify its facilities but also increase its intake of children.

The plans state: “The proposal will provide much needed additional floor area to enable the nursery to facilitate increased children numbers.

“The refurbishment… will greatly enhance the facilities and capabilities of the nursery, providing a more modern teaching and learning environment to the benefit of all site users.”

The work will involve extending and adapting the nursery’s main existing building, creating a new layout that will increase staff and accommodation facilities and also provide a babies creche.

Additionally, one of the nursery’s rear buildings will be demolished and replaced with a larger building, containing teaching areas, a meeting room, a kitchen and wet play area.

The building will be linked by a new covered walkway and two new outdoor soft play areas will also be added, both of which will be under canopies.

Plus, a new “secure video communication system” linked to the entry door will be introduced to enhance existing security measures within the nursery.

The plans also notes that the impact on the surrounding area during building is expected to be “minimal” due to the site’s location.

The report added: “Due to its rural location the works are expected to have minimal impact on the surrounding area. The works are largely hidden by the vegetation around the entrance to site and by the front elevation of Building A.”

It continued: “All materials have been selected with the existing building and surrounding environment taken into consideration to ensure the extension and new build blend seamlessly with its surroundings.”

The nursery, which recently underwent a change of management, says that no date has been set for work to begin, with funds for the project still waiting to be released.