- New modern building will house preschool and boost childcare places in Stonebroom
- Bolsover MP Natalie Fleet officially opened the new £650,000 community hall
- Official opening marks early milestone in wider regeneration project.
A £650,000 community hall that will be home to a preschool and boost childcare places in Stonebroom has been officially opened by Bolsover MP Natalie Fleet.
Stonebroom Community Preschool previously operated from an ageing community hall that was cold, draughty and no longer fit for purpose.
The new building provides a warm, energy-efficient and child-focused space with a dedicated car park including disabled bays, three child-friendly toilets plus baby change, a staff office, proper storage and a large flexible play and learning space.
Natalie Fleet MP said: “Access to good quality, affordable childcare is one of the biggest pressures on household finances.
“The old preschool building had served the community for 80 years, but it was never designed for 21st-century childcare. This new facility represents modern standards, it’s energy-efficient, accessible, safe and provides a vital service for parents in the area.
"This is just one step in Stonebroom's wider regeneration which I look forward to seeing progress.”
Rykneld Homes worked in collaboration with Gelder Group to deliver the £650,000 community building funded by North East Derbyshire District Council.
Councillor Nigel Barker, leader of North East Derbyshire District Council, added: “As a council, it’s important we help our communities provide the best care they can by providing modern, energy efficient facilities for them to use, and we welcome our first tenants into the new community facility.
“Thanks to Rykneld Homes in helping deliver a facility that benefits the whole community as part of wider regeneration plans.”
The community building’s modern layout and additional space mean the preschool can now welcome up to 26 children at a time, an increase of about 30 per cent, extending access to high-quality childcare in the village.
The charity-run preschool offers affordable, local provision that helps working families balance employment and caring responsibilities and gives children the best possible start in life.
The preschool team said: "We’re thrilled to be moving into our new base, which will allow us to care for more children in a modern, professional space, and better meet the needs of our community.
“The new building allows us to look to the future with stability and confidence, and we are extremely grateful to Rykneld Homes and NEDDC for helping us to support local families and the next generation."
The new facility is part of a wider regeneration programme in Stonebroom led by Rykneld Homes in partnership with North East Derbyshire District Council.
The substantial regeneration works will replace post-war homes with modern energy-efficient homes.
The project includes the demolition of 50 existing properties, including the preschool’s former base, the old community hall. The old homes will be replaced with 74 new two-bed homes, each with a garden, parking space, air source heat pump and EV charging point.
Works on demolishing existing properties will start in the new year. All work is expected to be completed in summer 2028.
Helen Brown, Head of Regeneration at Rykneld Homes, said: “The official opening of the community hall marks an early milestone of an exciting regeneration project in Stonebroom.
“Supporting initiatives like the preschool is part of our wider commitment to not just build homes but communities.
“It’s great to see the difference it will make to the preschool and the children and families it supports.”
Steve Gelder, CEO of Gelder Group, added: “We are proud to have delivered a modern, energy-efficient community facility that will serve Stonebroom for many years.
“This project demonstrates the value of collaborative working and the positive impact that well-planned regeneration can have on local communities.”
