Nursery at Reading rugby club shelved due to construction costs

Chalkhouse Childcare Services was given the go-ahead to create a new nursery on the grounds at Peppard Road, near Caversham, last July.

But less than a year later, the project has been shelved due to the cost of the project rising by nine per cent since its estimations in April 2022.

The news was broken to members of Reading Abbey Rugby Club on Wednesday, May 17, at the club’s annual general meeting.

Chalkhouse Childcare Services has been contacted for comment.

While no longer going ahead with plans to build a new nursery, the company has instead acquired an existing nursery in Lower Earley.

The Elm Lane Montessori seen in August 2021. The building has been taken over by Chalkhouse Childcare Services. Credit: Google Maps

According to paperwork, it has taken over Elm Lane Montessori which closed down in December 2021 shortly after receiving an ‘inadequate’ rating from Ofsted.

Chalkhouse@Earley registered with Ofsted on January 18 of this year.

Planning permission for a nursery at the rugby club remains in place until 2025, giving Chalkhouse until July 2025 to begin the project if the firm changes its mind.

The planning application can be viewed by searching for reference P22/S1511/FUL in South Oxfordshire council’s planning portal.