Closed South Woodham Ferrers police station will be nursery

Essex Police closed its offices in South Woodham Ferrers, on Tylers Ride, in November last year.

Services are now provided by Chelmsford and Basildon police stations.

The site has been sold to Glanmire Holdings South Woodham Ferrers Ltd, which plans to convert the site into a 110-place children’s nursery.

Essex County News can now reveal the nursery will be operated by Busy Bees Nurseries, which runs 400 childcare centres across the UK.

Melissa Harrison, area director at Busy Bees, says the company has seen growing demand for childcare in South Woodham Ferrers.

She told Essex County News : "We're excited to be bringing high-quality early years education to families in the area.

"We know how important it is for families to have access to trusted early years education and care close to home."

Booking in - the reception area. (Image: Kemsley LLP)

Busy Bees Nurseries promises to create a "nurturing and enriching environment" to help children grow in confidence and independence while playing.

The nursery will also provide NHS-accredited menus, with nutritious meals freshly prepared every day on-site by the nursery’s chef.

Mrs Harrison says Bee Curious , Busy Bees’ innovative curriculum , is "designed to feed children’s natural curiosity and foster a lifelong love of learning".

She added: "We can't wait to open our doors to families in the community."

Heart of the community - Busy Bees' new nursery will be located in the town centre. (Image: Kemsley LLP)

The sale is expected to bring both financial and community benefits, supporting early years education provision while reducing ongoing costs for Essex's Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC).

In the decision report, a spokesperson said: "The proposal disposes of the building, which will be utilised as a nursery business with benefit to the local community of South Woodham Ferrers and surrounding areas."

The building includes offices, interview rooms, a custody suite, and ancillary areas.

Under the commissioner's estate strategy, the site was declared "surplus to operational requirements".

Alternative uses considered for the property included residential, care home, offices, and leisure developments.

The recommendation to the commissioner was to proceed with the conditional sale of the building for £1,125,000.