Nursery set to be built as part of Maldon housing development

1,000 homes are being constructed at the Limebrook Way development

Author: Matthew Critchell, Local Democracy Reporting ServicePublished 9th Aug 2024

A lease is set to be agreed for a new nursery at a new school site as part of a major housing development in Maldon.

Essex County Council is proposing to agree on the lease with the Lion Academy Trust for the 56-child place nursery within the grounds of the new Limebrook Primary School located at the Limebrook Way Development, Maldon. 

The education facilities form part of the 1,000-home development off Limebrook Way in the town. The county council is looking to enter into a 25-year lease agreement with the Lion Academy Trust for the nursery. 

The school is the newest member of Lion Academy Trust, a multi-academy trust with ten academies across Essex, London and Wellingborough.

Both the school and the nursery are currently under construction by the county council and have been designed in a way such that they are capable of separate occupations. The buildings will be owned and managed by the county council and leases will be granted upon completion of the building and prior to occupation. 

The school is due to open next month with 30 reception places and when at capacity, the two-form entry school will provide more than 400 places for children. 

The council meeting papers say agreeing the lease would have the following benefits: "supports the sustainability and development of the Essex early years and childcare sector, enables parents to work and train by supporting them to access high quality, affordable and accessible childcare options, supports the delivery of good early years outcomes for children which will enable them to have successful educational journeys and go on to access fulfilling employment opportunities and contribute to the growth of the Essex economy."

The meeting papers also say the lease agreement and nursery:

"Support providers to educate young children about their health and wellbeing and how best to promote this, setting positive foundations for good health outcomes in later life and will contribute to the new places needed to be created to meet the Childcare Reforms funded early years places expansion."