DEMAND for nursery places in north Winchester is set to be eased after civic chiefs approved plans to convert a hotel.

Harestock Lodge Hotel, in Harestock Road, will become a day centre for up to 50 under-5s at the third time of asking after city planners approved a change of use.

The plans have been rejected twice since they were first tabled last March but the conversion was approved on Thursday (October 16) after changes to noise reduction and opening hours.

Children's services bosses at Hampshire County Council said the nursery would help meet growing demand for places, which is set to increase as 2,000 homes are built in nearby Barton Farm.

There were 11 letters of objection, citing noise from playing children, traffic congestion and dangerous parking on nearby streets during drop-off times.

Kevin and Julia Kelly got the green light from Winchester City Council after pledging to build a timber fence to restrict noise and keep outside play time to within working hours.

They also dropped plans to open the nursery at weekends.

Planning committee chairman Cllr Laurence Ruffell said noise from “screaming children” hindered their previous applications.

It comes after planners approved a nursery for 70 children on the site of the Ship Inn, in Wales Street, and Stanmore's Carroll Centre announced plans to expand its provision to 32 places.