Tempest Arms in Doffcocker to be turned into nursery

The proposal to turn the former Tempest Arms on Chorley Old Road in Doffcocker into a nursery with spaces for more than 70 children was put before Bolton Council earlier this year.

Now the authority has approved the plan as long as certain conditions, meaning that conversion work will be able to get underway.

A council report said: “The proposal is for the change of use of a former pub into a children’s nursery with the beer garden repurposed as a play area.

“The pub is located close to residential properties, however, taking into account the previous use and the nature of the facility proposed it is not considered that the change of use will have an undue impact on any neighbouring dwelling.

The plans have been approved by Bolton Council (Image: Neil Pike Architecture)

“It is expected that some additional traffic will be generated in the morning and evening when children are dropped off and picked up.

“However, taking into account the existing level of traffic on this section of Chorley Old Road, it is not considered that this will have an undue impact on neighbouring amenity in terms of noise or pollution.”

The Tempest Arms has been closed since 2022 when, like many pubs around the country, it failed to survive the pandemic and ensuing lockdowns that severely limited trade.

Since then the building has been empty, with the successful bid, the second of two plans that had been put forward to turn it into a nursery.

 The latest version of the plans proposed making spaces for 15 full-time members of staff with up to 74 children.

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When the latest plans were first lodged Cllr Roger Hayes, of Smithills, said that he and his colleagues had not come across any negative reactions from the community.

He said: “We know there are issues with the high costs of nursery places recently so I’d hope that another facility like this will help to do something about that.”

Bolton Council has now approved the plans as long as certain conditions are abided by.

These include making sure that that no more than 74 children are accommodated at any one time and that opening hours are kept between 7.30am and 6pm from Monday to Friday.