A CITY charity is “delighted” after being given the green light to continue the expansion of its headquarters in St John’s.
Worcester Snoezelen has finished the first phase of work to modernise its home in Turnpike Close.
That included the creation of a new temporary car park, a new access point onto the site and the relocation of temporary buildings.
The city council has now given planning permission for phase two of the plans to go ahead.
The existing centre will be refurbished, a new entrance lobby and sensory wing will be created and a sensory garden will be developed outside.
Worcester Snoezelen, which has been operating for more than 30 years, provides leisure therapy sessions and other multisensory activities to people with disabilities and additional needs.
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But its services aren’t available anywhere else in the area - and so the charity has outgrown its current premises.
Chief executive officer Jane Roberts said: “We are delighted to have gained planning permission for the future development of Snoezelen.
“This build will extend the existing building creating a new entrance, a sensory wing and refurbishments within the sensory centre.
“We have completed phase one of our plans with a generous grant from the Kildare Foundation and support from; Sanctuary Group, Drain Jet Surveys, Speller Metcalf, the University of Worcester, AKW, Ward Williams, XTX Ltd, Tandem Contracts, OCM, DSM and One Creative.
“We very much look forward to the work commencing so that we can continue to offer life-enhancing sensory activities to people of all ages who have disabilities and additional needs across Worcestershire and the surrounding counties.
“This build will help us respond to demand for our specialist sensory services.”
A planned third phase of the charity’s expansion would include the removal of the temporary buildings and the construction of a large extension.
This would house a new entrance and reception, a hall and various therapy rooms. A new permanent car park would also be constructed. Plans for this stage of the works have yet to be submitted.
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