Plans to convert a farm building into a pre-school nursery have been approved despite concerns about it being in an isolated location. Cornwall Council’s east sub-area planning committee approved the plans for a nursery at Scadghill Farm in Kilkhampton.

Planning officers had recommended that the plans be refused due to the “inaccessibility and unsustainable location” which only has access by car. They said that this would outweigh the benefits of a new pre-school for the area.

Alison Heywood had submitted the plans and explained that the pre-school would have space for up to 62 children per day and that there would be eight members of staff. In her application Mrs Heywood said there was a shortage of pre-school provision in Bude and the surrounding area.

Being located next to a farm the pre-school would focus on outdoor activities with children having access to woodland and an open garden area for play and learning. The applicants said they would also be looking to provide electric vehicle charging points on site.

Local Cornwall councillor Shorne Tilbey supported the plans, saying: “There is a need for this service in Bude generally. We need to be mindful of where we are in this rural area and that it is necessary to access services by car.”

Adam Paynter added: “It is a very rural location and for lots of areas in North Cornwall you have to travel to get anywhere and people do rely on private motor cars.

“It [an application for a pre-school] is not something we see every day at planning committee and it is something that is much needed.”

The application was approved by the committee with eight votes in favour and two against. A separate application for listed building consent for the conversion of the Grade II listed farmhouse into a pre-school nursery was also approved by the committee.