A specialist nursery could be moving to a new home when councillors discuss plans for the future of the Connaught Annex at the next Strategy, Finance & City Regeneration Committee meeting on Thursday 25 April.
The proposals are to transfer the building to the Jeanne Saunders Centre Charity to provide an improved accessible premises for their specialist nursery care and early education for children with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND).
The Jeanne Saunders Centre provides intensive early learning and assessment to children with a range of complex needs including severe language delay and autistic spectrum conditions. It also offers support to their families and carers.
The centre’s existing accommodation in the 4-storey Penny Gobby House in Palmeira Avenue is increasingly unsuitable and inaccessible for the service.
Selling the current building and moving to the Connaught Annex would allow the Jeanne Saunders Centre to better meet the needs of their specialist services by providing a ground floor space with easy access to different areas.
This means that the centre can accommodate wheelchair users and improve accessibility for children with mobility issues.
The Connaught Annex, also known as the Connaught Day Centre, was previously occupied by West Hove Primary School until 2022 but is now surplus to our requirements.
The sale of the property, which has been valued at £800,000, will be used to support the council’s corporate capital strategy.
Councillor Lucy Helliwell said: “We welcome the proposals to relocate the Jeanne Saunders Centre to much more suitable new facilities at the Connaught Annex.
“Our SEND Strategy aims to enhance the outcomes and life chances of children and young people with SEND across Brighton & Hove. This move would support that strategy by providing a long-term home for this vital service.
“The Jeanne Saunders Centre’s current premises is a former residential 4-storey building with access issues. Moving the service to the Connaught Annex with a larger ground floor space will make it more accessible for children with mobility issues.
“This means this site is much better suited to meet the needs of the children the Jeanne Saunders Centre supports.”
