Decision due on future of SEN nursery

Councillors will decide if the nursery can buy a new building for £800,000

Plans to move a nursery for children with complex special educational needs to a new building will be decided by councillors.

The Jeanne Saunders Centre charity is based at 31 Palmeira Avenue, Hove, however the building is said to be “increasingly unsuitable and inaccessible”.

The charity wants to buy and move to the Connaught Annex in nearby Connaught Road to improve accessibility for its children.

Connaught Annex, also known as the Connaught Day Centre, was occupied by West Hove Primary School until 2022.

Brighton & Hove City Council, which is the sole trustee of the charity, also owns the Connaught Annex. A committee will decide on the plans on Thursday.

The charity hopes to buy the building shaded in yellow

Councillor Lucy Helliwell said: “We welcome the proposals to relocate the Jeanne Saunders Centre to much more suitable new facilities.

“The current premises is a former residential four-storey building with access issues. Moving the service to the Connaught Annex with a larger ground floor space will make it more accessible for children with mobility issues."

The Connaught Road site is valued at £800,000. The council said it is taking legal advice to avoid conflict of interest in selling a building it owns to a charity it runs.