A developer has been drumming up support for a new nursery on a former bakery. 

An applicant called Hanslip has submitted plans for a 96-place nursery and two houses on the Ashfield bakery site in Southampton Road, Romsey.

In an unusual move, the developer Paul Airey Planning has collected 156 signatures across three areas around the town: Premier Way at Abbey Park industrial estate, Luzborough and Memorial Park in Romsey.

The application is a resubmission of one that was refused by Test Valley Borough Council using delegated powers in October 2023. 

The only public comment on the scheme has come from Romsey Town Council's planning committee, which objected over concerns about it being a development in the countryside and on a main road. 

READ MORE: Town councillors split on countryside nursery plan objection

Nursery plan CGI (Image: TVBC)

Paul Airey said in a letter: “The purpose of the survey was to collect signatures of support to the scheme and a target of 150 was set."

He added: "Only two people questioned refused to sign the form and the impression gained by the canvassers was that there are serious concerns about the lack of nursery provision in the area, and that the proposed scheme would be beneficial to the community.”

“It is not suggested that the poll is representative of the population of Romsey or is necessarily impartial, but it does represent an interesting snapshot of the public view of the need for this type of development, and I would be grateful if this information (caveated as necessary) could be included as part of your report to members of the planning committee.”

The planning statement argued that the nursery is needed due to demand.

It said: “Permitting this development would provide significant economic and social benefits to the area and help address a serious shortfall of nursery places.

"This shortfall is likely to increase with the increased demand that will be created by recent additional government allowances to parents to facilitate parental employment.”

For more information about the plans, search 24/00907/FULLS on Test Valley Borough Council's online planning portal.