Nursery boss delighted after councillors back move

Nursery manager Katie Harris (left) and owner Amanda Goodier (right) are celebrating after Barnsley Council approved their application to move to a new site.

A nursery owner has spoken of her "shock and delight" after councillors went against planning officers' recommendation and approved plans to relocate her business.

Shining Stars nursery, in in Monk Bretton, near Barnsley, had applied to move to Carlton Industrial Estate after being told it had to leave its current home at St Helen's Primary Academy.

The application had been recommend for refusal on traffic and safety grounds, but, on Tuesday, councillors backed the plans, saving the nursery from closure.

Nursery boss Amanda Goodier said: "I was so shocked. We're delighted. I'm going to have the best night's sleep in six months."

The nursery had been asked to vacate its current home to free up space for extra SEND provision, and staff decided the only suitable location was a free unit on the industrial estate.

"We looked at four properties the council suggested for us, but they were all unsuitable," Ms Goodier said.

"They weren't in our area and most of our parents don't drive, how could they get to those places?"

Planning officers cited concerns over safety, traffic management and the site's suitability as reasons for refusing the application.

Traffic officers also raised concerns that a lack of parking could lead to congestion and parking on busy estate roads, posing a risk to children crossing these roads.

Shining Stars Nursery now aims to move to the new site on the Carlton Industrial Estate in June 2025

In response, Ms Goodier said she had secured additional parking at a neighbouring unit for additional parking spaces and pledged to implement measures to ensure safety.

She also told the meeting that turning down the application would lead to the 12 nursery staff losing their jobs and disrupt the other services it provides, including a food and clothing bank and holiday clubs.

Councillors voiced strong support for the nursery, with David Greenhough praising the efforts made to explore alternative locations, while acknowledging that the area, though busy, was not "heavy industry."

He also highlighted the nursery's value in assisting working parents.

Following the meeting, Ms Goodier said a "weight had been lifted" but the "hard work starts here".

Shining Stars hopes to move to their new site June 2025.

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