A CITY centre York pre-school is struggling with planners to build what it says is a much-needed extension, but has got the backing of a former government minister.

Funfishers nursery is due to have plans for an extension decided next week, and former children’s minister Robert Goodwill has written backing the plan after he visited the site last year.

Mr Goodwill wrote: “I am not surprised that your pre-school is looking to extend, given the tremendous success not only of Funfishers but also of 30 hours scheme, and therefore hope that the council will do everything it can to support your extension plans.”

The nursery is based at the back of the Fishergate school site, but says it needs an extension to cope with an exponential increase in demand that has left it with waiting lists.

Its existing home is a Grade II listed building built by York architect W H Brierley in the late 19th century, and already adapted with a new mezzanine to create some more nursery space. However, planning documents show there are still concerns about the long-term suitability of the building as it is.

Stephanie Leeman, architect, said: “If we cannot extend we will have to seriously consider moving to other premises, which will not be as convenient to any of the parties concerned.

“I find it difficult in the circumstances to understand why the planning officer has deemed architectural semantics as being more important than the public benefit and I disagree wholeheartedly with the contention that the extension will substantially harm the listed setting.”

A design and access statement prepared for the application says: “We have now been trying for over a year to move this project on and feel that the uncompromising stance of the conservation department needs to be balanced with the social and economic reasons for the need for an extension and adjacency of location.”

Planning documents also show the nursery’s trustees have already spoken to conservation experts at the council about two earlier schemes, but this fresh scheme is recommended for refusal at a planning committee on Thursday, April 5 as council staff believe it would harm the listed building.