A nursery owner is seeking permission to transform a community hall into a pre-school.

Kate Hersey, Director of Chrysalis Nursery in Church Hill, Loughton, submitted the application to change the use of Lincoln Hall in High Road, Loughton, to another nursery, on August 28.

If successful, the pre-school offer care for around 48 three to five-year-old children between the hours of 7.30am and 6.30pm.

In the planning statement Ms Hersey addresses the government decision to double free childcare available for all working parents of three and four-year-olds from 15 to 30 hours a week.

She said: “Currently the demand for places is high and in order to accommodate the request for places it would be beneficial to acquire these premises for our pre-school.

“The demand at pre-school age particularly increases due to the free hours given to parents the term after the age of three.

“This is only going to escalate as the Conservatives have now decided to increase the free hours from 15 to 30 hours by 2017.”

The application also includes the introduction of four on-site drop off spaces.

Ms Hersey added: “Most of our parents drop off between 7.30 and 9am and pick up between 5 and 6.30pm.

“Sainsbury’s have a large car park, which is only a two minute walk from the site and after speaking with the deputy store manager he confirmed that there are always spaces available.

“Parents would be more than welcome to use the facility as long as the 20p fee is paid during the hours of 8am and 6pm as required.”

A decision will be made by the council planning committee at a meeting later this month.