Millbrook: Tiny Toes to open nursery at Holy Trinity Church

The Grade II-listed Holy Trinity Church in Millbrook Road West was hit by falling attendances and has not held any Anglican services for three years.

But the 150-year-old building, famous for its distinctive spire, is set to be given a new lease of life.

Tiny Toes (Southampton) Ltd has been given planning permission to convert the former church hall into a day nursery for children aged three months to five years.

Holy Trinity Church has served the local community since the early 1870s (Image: Newsquest.)

A planning statement that formed part of the application said: "The hall and Holy Trinity have been vacant for some time.

"The Diocese of Winchester has confirmed that Holy Trinity has seen congregation numbers dwindle over the past 20 years, with the last service being held in 2021.

READ MORE: Buyer sought as historic Holy Trinity Church goes on the market

"The site has been marketed for sale since around June 2022.

"During this time, Tiny Toes has been confirmed as the only bidder, putting forward a joint solution for both properties which would see the church retained as a place of worship."

Holy Trinity Church hosted a reunion for wartime evacuees in 2015 (Image: Newsquest.)

The hall is a single-storey building that dates from the 1980s.

"The proposal seeks to convert the hall into a day nursery for up to 90 children. Internally, the building will be subdivided to provide rooms for different age groups, along with staff ancillary accommodation, kitchen and plant room. The nursery will employ 20 full-time and four part time staff.

READ MORE: Millbrook's amazing transformation from rural retreat to urban sprawl

"The applicant has a proven track record of providing high quality and much-needed nursery provision in Southampton.

"The proposal is located in an urban, built-up area characterised by both large-scale residential development and commercial operations which it will serve."

A city council report said the scheme was supported by the authority's Early Years team.

It added: "On balance, the proposal would be an appropriate use within this residential area, providing a commercial facility designed to meet a recognised need in the city.

"The scheme would not be out of character with the local area, or the adjacent listed building, and would not cause significant harm to the amenity of neighbouring residents."

Holy Trinity, which has served the local community since the 1870s, is one of the few surviving parts of what was once the village of Millbrook.

It includes a memorial to parishioners lost in the Titanic disaster, all of whom are buried in Newfoundland.