Plans have been put forward to convert a former Willaston pub and hotel into a new children's day nursery, less than 12 months after it closed down.

Applicant, Chestnut Holdings, has applied for a change of use at The Lamb Hotel, Wistaston Road, providing early years childcare for the local and wider community.

These plans come after the two-storey detached venue, closed in July 2025 by Punch Pubs, was sold for around £300,000 earlier this year.

Chestnut proposes the provision of care for 20 babies and 30 toddlers across two groups, as well as 30 pre-school places.

15 parking spaces are proposed at the Wistaston Road site, including three dedicated drop off spaces.

The new site layout will provide a turning zone for vehicles, as well as an area for deliveries and collections.

The Lamb Hotel was permanently closed in July 2025 by Punch Pubs and sold for around £300k earlier this year (Photo: Savills).

A design and access statement reads: "The proposal is for the building to be used as a children's day nursery, providing early years care for babies, toddlers and pre-school.

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"The site will include adequate parking, drop off and external play areas.

"This will be a community facility right where it should be, in the heart of the community which it will serve.

"The building itself will be converted to create a series of zones and rooms to serve particular age groups, together with ancillary accommodation, including a reception area, staff/management rooms, kitchens and storage.

"Different operators have different views on the arrangement of spaces across a two-storey setting.

"Here Chestnut's preference is for baby rooms to be located up on the first floor, with toddlers and pre-school on the ground floor.

"On the ground floor, from the re-used existing main entrance, one enters a secure zone including a small reception and meeting area, from which controlled access into the building is gained by parents and staff.

"Ground floor spaces include two toddler rooms (both with dedicated changing, toilets and cloaks areas) whilst a pre-school zone occupies the northern portion of the footprint.

"Also included on the ground floor is a kitchen (in a similar location to the existing), storage and bin stores."

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Chestnut wants the existing vehicular access off Wistaston Road to be altered, creating a "safer setting for staff, parents and visitors," with a formalised dropped crossing and rumble strip across the entrance.

A dedicated pedestrian route is also planned from the car park, around the southwestern corner of the building and around to the main entrance.

The design and access statement adds: "This is an opportunity to breathe new life and longevity into a much-loved building, to provide a use which is appropriate for the immediate and wider setting, to improve pedestrian safety and provide a service for villagers within the heart of the village.

"The unfortunate decline in the public house industry is decimating the sector across the UK, sadly something which is totally outside of the control of the planning system.

"In a village which is well served locally by ample local community facilities, the re-use of the building should be welcomed."

The late date for submitting comments is Thursday 25 June.

READ MORE: Crewe & Nantwich MP backs under-16 social media ban to 'protect childhoods.'

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