Plans for new indoor children’s play in Sutton submitted to council

Applicant Anne Jarvis submitted proposals to turn The Morven Rooms in Morven Avenue, Sutton, into a new children’s play area to Ashfield District Council in December 2024.

The Morven Rooms was built in the early 20th century as a church hall.

It has been used as a community hall for events in the past and more recently was used as a dance hall for around 50 years.

The previous owners have since retired and the building has been left unused, documents say, with the new owners wishing to start a new business for the community.

Part of the plans involve the building of a ramp for disabled people to be able to access the building.

Papers say: “The proposed development will provide social, economic and environmental public benefits that will provide an important local facility for children and their parents.”

Proposals include “much-needed” maintenance work to the visual appearance of the building, according to planning papers.

The site currently has corrugated metal sheeting on the external walls and roof- this will be updated but kept similar to the existing light-grey colour.

The site is around a ten minute walk from the town centre and bus services.

Morven Avenue is a dead-end with on street parking on Morven Avenue restricted to drop off only but there is “adequate local parking within walking distance”, plans say.

However, off-street parking for any staff will remain the same.

The council will decide on this application at a later date.