Nursery owner wins right to extend coastal landmark

The owner of a chain of day nurseries has won planning permission to extend a landmark building on the Hampshire coast in order to live in it.

Freya Derrick MBE, owner of Hopscotch nurseries, will occupy an enlarged first floor apartment at Haven House, Hill Head, Fareham Borough Council was told.

The ground floor will be converted into a nursery for 75 children and a cafe.

In 2024, Hampshire County Council sold the 19th Century building, which included a former visitor centre for Titchfield Haven national nature reserve, despite a large protest campaign.

The authority said the money was needed to pay for maintenance at the wetland reserve.

It rejected a community attempt to buy the building as well as an offer from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.

Nearly 3,000 people made representations to the council about the sale.

Ms Derrick applied to enlarge the first floor apartment, as well as to extend and renovate the ground floor space and add extra glazing.

At a meeting of Fareham's planning committee, councillor Ian Bastable suggested the application was for a "penthouse suite on top of a school".

Councillor David Foot said the new plans looked nicer than the existing building, while councillor Steve Dugan welcomed the day nursery.

The proposal was unanimously approved.

Follow BBC South on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2240.