@Daniel Dhaliwal Interesting question. From what I’ve seen, if the nursery falls under Use Class E, there’s often potential to convert it to residential under Class MA permitted development right, which allows many commercial properties (including day nurseries) to change to residential through a prior approval process rather than full planning. Of course, it still depends on things like Article 4 restrictions, conservation areas, and whether structural changes are needed. Curious though, is the property already vacant, and roughly how big is the building? That can make a big difference to how straightforward the conversion could be.

@Daniel Dhaliwal Great question. Class MA is a permitted development right that allows certain buildings in Use Class E (like offices, shops, gyms, and day nurseries) to be converted into residential without needing full planning permission. Instead, you apply for prior approval with the local council. Prior approval is basically the council checking specific things such as transport impact, noise, natural light, flooding risk, and whether the building has been in Class E use for at least 2 years and vacant for 3 months before applying. Most local authorities do offer this process, but it’s always worth checking if the property is in an Article 4 area or has other restrictions, because that can remove the permitted development rights. Out of curiosity, are you looking at a specific nursery site right now, or just exploring the strategy? It can be a really interesting conversion if the layout and location work well.

@Makeda Bonsu Exciting start! I remember being in that position too. One thing that really helped me was staying open to learning and connecting with people who were already getting results. I’m someone who likes sharing what has been working for me, so I’m curious, what are you hoping to get the most clarity on during your first call? Sometimes one good conversation can change everything.

@Ejaz Shaikh That’s a powerful mission. Projects driven by purpose, especially something as important as water pollution prevention, tend to have the strongest long-term impact. I also like that you mentioned building it safely under the guidance of Mark & Nigel. Having the right mentorship while building something meaningful can make a huge difference. Out of curiosity, what was the moment that made water pollution prevention become so personal to you? Would love to hear the story behind it.

@Helen Morgan Love the energy, we all start somewhere. When I first stepped into real estate, I was excited about everything too. What changed the game for me was moving from excitement to building simple systems that create consistent results. That shift made all the difference. What have you been working on lately? And what’s been the biggest challenge so far?

@Robert Cowlishaw Welcome, Great to have you here. Quick one, what’s the main goal you’re working on right now, and what’s been the biggest challenge? Let’s start the conversation.