An Oxford nursery which is being forced to close has unveiled plans to relocate to a nearby industrial estate.

This Is Oxfordshire is reporting that St Thomas Day Nursery, currently located in St Thomas’ Street, off Hollybush Row in Oxford, has submitted plans to re-open on the Osney Mead industrial estate.

The nursery was forced to find another site after being threatened with closure as its owners plan to redevelop the existing building.

An application submitted to Oxford City Council has applied to change the use of a hairdressing company with an ancillary workshop, located in unit 11, to a day nursery in Ferry Hinksey Road.

Applicant, Coppe van Urk, wrote in the planning statement: “The nursery sees this as a positive opportunity to upgrade their facilities, since the current building, from 20 years ago, was originally a temporary building meant to last five years.

“It is showing its age with out-of-date kitchen and toilet facilities.

“The new nursery will be designed to modern standards, significantly improving the service provided.”

The nursery employs 15 staff and caters for 40 children across two age groups, with a 12-month waiting list for new places.

The scheme would include minor changes to the building, such as the removal of a roller shutter door and the addition of three windows at the front and three at the side.

The planning statement added: “These physical changes are very minor and will have a broad benefit for future occupation of the building, not only as a nursery, but as other Class E usage.”