New Nursery Proposed for Former Falcons School
Second attempt being made to change use at site
The former Falcons School on Burnaby Gardens
October 4, 2025
A planning application has been submitted to Hounslow Council for the change of use of 2 Burnaby Gardens, Chiswick, from a pre-preparatory school to a full-time nursery, marking the latest chapter in the future of the former Falcons School site.
The application (ref: P/2025/2884), lodged by Ceres Nursery Limited trading as Working Mums Daycare & Pre-School, seeks permission to convert the now-vacant building into a dedicated nursery for children aged six weeks to five years. The proposal follows the closure of the Falcons School in December 2023, which sparked concern among some residents about potential residential redevelopment.
The building, a four-storey detached structure with extensions to the rear, previously operated as a combined nursery and school under Use Classes E and F1. The new application would consolidate the use under Class E, with no external alterations proposed. The nursery would accommodate up to 110 children and employ 26 staff, with outdoor play limited to 50 children at any one time—significantly fewer than the previous school’s unrestricted outdoor capacity.
The site is not within a conservation area but lies in an Area of Special Character, with several protected trees nearby. A Transport Statement and Travel Plan submitted with the application suggest limited impact on local traffic, citing proximity to bus routes and rail stations, and encouraging active travel.
Public consultation was carried out in July, with letters distributed to neighbouring streets and two drop-in sessions held at the site. However, no residents attended and no written responses were received.
This is the second nursery proposal for the site in under a year. In late 2024, N Family Club—a chain of nurseries founded in 2017—submitted a similar application (ref: P/2024/4088), which was ultimately refused. Planning officers concluded that the change of use would be material and required full permission, as the building’s primary use had been educational rather than nursery-based. It is not known why N Family Club chose not to submit a revised application. It is not believed to be connected to Working Mums Daycare & Pre-School.
The current applicant, Working Mums Daycare & Pre-School, operates several nurseries across South West London and has engaged with council officers and transport consultants to address planning concerns. A pre-application meeting in May 2025 confirmed that the change of use would not result in the loss of community facilities, provided the nursery met local need and operated within appropriate hours.
The application is now under consideration by Hounslow Council. If approved, it would secure the future of the site as a childcare facility and bring the building back into use after nearly two years of vacancy.
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