Durham City’s leading law firm, Swinburne Maddison LLP, (Swinburne Maddison) has acted on behalf of a children’s nursery business, Noah’s Ark Hebburn Ltd (Noah’s Ark), in the purchase of Hebburn Masonic Hall on Aln Street. The purchase will facilitate the creation of twenty new jobs in the community.
Nursery operators Nicola and Iain George, who already manage a highly regarded nursery on Victoria Road with a waitlist exceeding over a year for its baby room, sought to expand their operations. The opportunity to acquire the Masonic Hall has allowed them to meet the growing demand and extend their services.
Talking about their plans for the business, Nicola said:
“Noah’s Ark currently provides care to around 38 children a day. With pending approval of our building plans by the planning department, we aim to increase this number to 85 children. This expansion will not only enhance our ability to support children with additional needs but allow us to increase our staff from 20 to around 40, specifically recruiting professionals with specialised qualifications and expertise in this area.
“The timing of this expansion aligns perfectly with new government initiatives starting in September, which will entitle all parents to government-funded childcare, facilitating their return to work after parental leave. Depending on the child’s age, parents may access between 15 and 30 hours of government funded childcare a week.
“We are currently unable to meet the high demand for our services, so securing the Masonic Hall is a significant milestone for us. It ensures we can accommodate the increasing need for childcare in our community.”
Swinburne Maddison’s Diane Hall, associate solicitor in the commercial property team, was instructed in mid-April to undertake the legal work. She said:
“Noah’s Ark is a unique nursery with a ‘curiosity approach’ to learning. The proposed plans, submitted for approval aim to enhance this approach, incorporating a bespoke sensory room, a separate cafeteria and dining and sleeping areas. Additionally, the exterior will feature an outdoor forestry area accessible through new bi-fold doors to promote outdoor learning – and improved parking facilities.
“The Masonic Hall had been empty since January allowing Nicola and Iain to promptly visualise the necessary renovations and effectively organise the space before embarking on cost estimates, projected to be in the region of £75,000.
“Swinburne Maddison was delighted to be recommended for this instruction and it has been a pleasure getting to know Nicola and Iain and assisting them with this significant venture. This project highlights the diverse range of instructions handled by our commercial property team. It has been particularly rewarding to support a thriving business poised to generate new jobs in the region.”
Nicola continued: “When we discussed our plans with our current parents, they were very excited. The new location is just across the road from our current premises, so it won’t disrupt their routines.
“We are looking forward to being able to offer something that is much needed but currently unavailable within the local community. We plan to open our doors at the end of August if all goes according to plan.
“Swinburne Maddison have done a fantastic job for us, providing valuable input and assistance. They have kept us informed throughout the entire process.”
The Masonic Hall was purchased by Noah’s Ark Nursery Ltd for £260k. The building was put up for sale on the open market following a decision by the Masons when their peppercorn rental period ended. The sale completed at the end of July and a decision on the planning application is expected imminently.