The old Ham Brewery Tap in Ham could become a children's day care centre if proposals submitted to Richmond Council go ahead.

Planning by Design has submitted plans to Richmond Council for the pub to be turned into a children's day care centre and nursery, for 49 children ranging from babies to age five.

The nursery would operate Monday to Friday from 7am to 6:30pm.

On Saturday the nursery will be closed but an event may occur.

The pub and the flatted accommodation are both currently vacant which the planning application says "is becoming increasingly evident from overgrowth within the curtilage."

The change of use would mean that some internal alterations and reconfigurations would need to take place to make the premise suitable for a children's nursery. 

Existing ground floor plan. (Photo Credit: Planning Application).

On the ground floor, there will be a lobby area (parents drop off area) with two classrooms, a kitchen and storage area and an exterior play area.

The ground floor will also have two separate toilets. 

Proposed ground floor plan. (Photo Credit: Planning Application).

On the first floor, there will be a classroom, a baby room, a sleep room and a changing room. 

The first floor will also have first-aid room and an office space with en-suite for staff to use, a kitchen/staff room, and a small store space.  

Existing first floor plans. (Photo Credit: Planning application).

The beer garden area will be turned into playground area and the front curtilage will be reconfigured to provide off street staff parking for four cars. 

The planning statement says: "The proposed development is considered to be of suitable design and layout, which would not harm the amenities of neighbouring residents, preserves the character and appearance of the area, and would not adversely impact the safety of the highway. 

Proposed first floor plan. (Photo Credit: Planning application).

"The development would provide an acceptable nursery use as it has been demonstrated in the marketing evidence and identified need."

The planning application is currently in the neighbour consultation phase.

There have been two objections received from neighbours, both of which bring concerns surrounding additional traffic and disturbance that the proposal would bring to the area.

However, the planning proposal states: "The use of the building will directly serve the surrounding residential area and is not inappropriate in nature for it.

"The use and activity at the site will not cause undue harm to residential amenity as a result of noise or increased footfall/visitor traffic, and there are no changes to the structure which would give rise to unacceptable overlooking, overshadowing or overbearing neighbouring land.

"The wider area lacks provision of daycare centres and nurseries."

People can comment until 14 November.

Find the full planning application here.