A former library will be transformed into a nursery and pre-school after planning permission was approved unanimously.

There had been fears in Redruth that the old library could be demolished or turned into luxury flats when it was put on the market.

However, the new plans to use it as a pre-school and nursery have been welcomed by local people. The new facilities will use the southern half of the building which is Grade II listed.

As well as the inside of the building being used for the pre-school and nursery, the plans also include the provision of a play area to the front of the building. This will include timber decking for the children to play on as well as some play equipment.

Local Cornwall councillor Barbara Ellenbroek said: “This is an absolutely stunning piece of work that has been done in Redruth. There has been a huge amount of hard work by local people to support this application.

“It is important for everybody to realise how important this building is. When the building was first put up for sale it was said that it would be used for luxury flats. It is certainly not luxury flats, it will be something for the community.”

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Cllr Ellenbroek, who is also Cornwall Council Cabinet member for children and families, welcomed the fact that the building will be used for a pre-school and nursery. She said: “We need good quality and accessible childcare. You can’t go back to work if you want to unless you have somewhere safe and secure for your children to go.

“I thoroughly support this and I have had no members of the public whatsoever come to me to say that they do not want this. This is what we want, heritage buildings being repurposed and used for the community.”

It has previously been reported that the rest of the building will be used as a cultural and heritage hub. Funding has been awarded for the project which will ensure the future of the building.

Cornwall Council’s west sub-area planning committee unanimously approved the plans for the southern part of the building to be used for a pre-school and nursery. It also unanimously approved a separate application for listed building consent for the proposed works.