Upstairs Downstairs: Former nightclub building could become children’s day nursery

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2013

Plans to change a former Armley nightclub and dance hall into a children’s day nursery have been submitted.

Little People, a company based in Bramley, wants to turn the former Upstairs Downstairs nightclub building in Armley Ridge Road into a day nursery.

The building has been empty for several years and was most recently used by The Limelight Dance Studio.

Marian Cole, of Cole Architects, says in the planning application form that the new nursery would create 13 full-time jobs and seven part-time positions and would be open between 7.30am to 6pm Monday to Friday. Ms Cole adds:

“There is currently no existing day childcare nursery in the immediate vicinity of Armley.

“We believe that siting a childcare facility in this location, on a currently derelict site, helps towards the city’s ambition to become the ‘Best City in the UK by 2030’ by supporting the local economy and helping the area to be both prosperous and sustainable and supporting the community to be more successful.”

Planned alterations include external cladding to parts of the building and new windows. There would also be new pedestrian access off Armley Ridge Road.

Little People is based in the former Villager public house at Maclaren Fields in Bramley and also has nurseries in places including Farsley, Stanningley and Alwoodley.

Upsairs Downstairs had become a magnet for crime and anti-social behaviour and closed in 2009.

The future of the building has been the subject of much debate in Armley. The Dispatch ran a poll last December asking readers what uses they’d like to see there, with community facilities and a pub/restaurant proving most popular.

The plans can be viewed in full here.



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