Proposals for a new adult day service centre in Stevenage have been approved.

Hertfordshire County Council are planning to replace the current Leyden House Day Service, in Leyden Road, with a new purpose-built facility on the playing fields at the former Pin Green Primary School in Hayward Close.

Leyden House is a county council building that provides daytime services during the week for adults with a learning disability.

Pin Green Primary School closed in 2005, but the land occupied by its playing fields is now set to be used again after Stevenage Borough Council (SBC) approved plans for the new centre.

The county council's cabinet had approved the relocation plans in October 2022, and a formal application was submitted to SBC in December last year.

Documents submitted as part of the application explained that "the day service facility will provide a space for vulnerable adults to socialise, relax and enjoy activities, and will be predominantly for individuals from Stevenage but would also be available to individuals from across the county".

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They added that Leyden House "is now considered inappropriately located amongst a wider industrial area, with the building being no longer fit for purpose".

Following community engagement, "the comments regarding the proposals were generally positive and supportive of the proposed new day care facility," the planning documents said, while noting that "concerns were raised about the proposed access and the impact this would have on pedestrian safety and potential increased on-street parking".

In a statement confirming their decision, an SBC officer said that they have no objection to the development.

The plans include 24 car parking spaces, with the majority of service users arriving by minibus, as well as widening the access road off Hayward Close and creating a pedestrian pathway.

The county council intend to bring forward another, separate planning application for the same site, for a 50-unit extra care housing scheme.