AN EMPTY home is to be brought back into use as nursery after 12 years with a council having given the green light.

A children’s nursery had previously been based at Magor Court, on the main road between Magor and Undy, but closed in 2012 when the property was due to be converted to a private residence.

However applicant Hannah Smith has now been given permission by Monmouthshire County Council for an application to change the use from a vacant residential dwelling to a nursery for up to 44 children. It is expected it will also employ 12 members of staff.

Three objections were received from members of the public concerned at the impact on highways and the potential for further congestion if parents dropping off and collecting children during the morning and afternoon rush hour periods.

Magor and Undy Town Council said it had no objection to the plan but had concerns over road safety and parking while local county councillor Frances Taylor welcomed the building being brought back in to use but said the highway and parking issues should be “addressed at the outset”.

Monmouthshire County Council planning officer Kate Bingham said additional details on parking, with a traffic management strategy for drop-offs and pick-ups, had been provided and there is space for parking and for vehicles to turn.,

As a result the highways department had no objection.

Part of the parking area that was in use when the house was previously a nursery, and is now a lawn, will once again be used for parking with 15 spaces provided, while the council’s standard requires only six, though it was acknowledged five spaces ” are not easily accessible” when others are in use.

Ms Bingham’s report said the access from the B4245 is also acceptable: “It has been demonstrated that the access is of a suitable width to allow the ease of access and passing of two-way traffic.”

The application was approved with a condition the parking and turning area remains in use in perpetuity.