Early start at nursery for mother of all parliaments
Crèche wins planners’ backing – after the builders move in
Published: 20 August, 2010
by JAMIE WELHAM
THE council will not take legal action against the Parliamentary Estate despite saying it was “astounded” to discover building work had started on a new crèche without planning permission.
The Parliamentary Estates Directorate, which manages the estate, including the Commons and the Lords, could have faced criminal charges for starting work on converting Bellamy’s Bar into a crèche for 40 toddlers in the grade-II listed building at number one Parliament Street.
But Westminster City Council has decided it would not be in the public interest to take action, and has granted retrospective planning permission. Alan Bradley, chairman of the planning said: “We were astounded to be told that work in constructing this nursery was already well under way before planning consent had been granted… this may well be a criminal offence. However, we recognised that a crèche will be a welcome addition to the facilities for all who work in the Palace of Westminster, including MPs and peers. Although its location, in a somewhat out-of-the-way corner of the Parliamentary Estate, is less than ideal, we were satisfied that the building could be made safe and accessible for those using it.”
The crèche is due to open before the end of the year and will cater for children of MPs, peers, civil servants and other staff working in the commons. Parents will pay around £10 an hour for the service, roughly equivalent to central London childcare rates.
The scheme is believed to be near to an article of faith for Speaker John Bercow, who grew tired of the old claim the Commons had a shooting gallery but no childcare facility.
A spokeswoman for the Parliamentary Estates Directorate said: “The House is delighted that planning permission for the nursery has been granted, if a little belatedly. The House has worked in full co-operation with officials at Westminster City Council and other relevant bodies such as Ofsted and English Heritage throughout this process and over a number of months and looks forward to continuing that relationship as this project moves to completion.”