Councillors in East Renfrewshire have approved the closure of Glen Family Centre on Woodfarm Road by the end of 2026.
Shutting the centre — which looks after children from six weeks to three years — is expected to save almost £200,000 a year.
The council will also avoid spending £300,000 on repairs to the building, which needs “major maintenance”, according to officials.
Savings from the first year of the closure are expected to be invested in adaptations to Glenwood Family Centre in Giffnock, which will cater for children aged two and under as well as the three to five year olds it currently supports.
Staff could be transferred to Glenwood or given other options within early learning and childcare facilities.
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Consultation on the plan, held during August and September, received 70 responses, with just over half from parents/carers of children attending or staff of Glen or Glenwood.
It found 91% of respondents disagreed with the proposal. Their concerns focused on “the continuity of high-quality experiences, preference for smaller settings, and the impact on children with additional support needs”.
However, council officials reported: “While the majority of respondents oppose the proposal, the education department is confident that the same high-quality experiences which children who currently attend Glen receive, would continue at Glenwood.”
They added the department’s experience would “ensure as smooth a transition for all learners as possible, working closely with both establishments”.
Officials believe the council will “continue to meet demand for all statutory places, that high quality experiences would continue and that there would be educational benefits by transferring the zero to three provision to Glenwood Family Centre”.
Council leader Owen O’Donnell, Labour, said: “I’m sure children, once they are in Glenwood, will be very happy, it’s a very good establishment and I’ve got no doubts they will be successful learners in that environment.”
The council report added: “By extending the locations in the east of the council area for two to three-year-olds, it is likely that this will result in an increase in those families not currently taking up their statutory entitlement to such places to do so, given the improvement in accessibility.
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“This will be of benefit to these children and more widely will support parents in returning to employment, training or accessing other opportunities.”
Across Giffnock and Thornliebank, there are four council settings catering for children aged three to five, including Glenwood Family Centre, while Glen Family Centre looks after younger children.
Glen can care for a maximum of 50 children, from six weeks to three years, while Glenwood, in Eastwood Park, can currently support up to 180 children between three and five years old.
Under the plan, adaptations to accommodate young children at Glenwood will reduce the capacity to 153, with 15 spaces for children from six weeks to two years, 18 places for two to three year olds and 120 for three to five year olds.
A previous council report said it is hoped providing places for children from six weeks to five years at Glenwood will “improve experiences… by reducing the number of transitions for children”. Around half of the children attending Glen each year have been transitioning to Glenwood at the age of three.
Built in 1980, Glen family centre is “less energy efficient and more costly to operate with regards to utilities” and maintenance, the report added.
Once empty, it is expected the building will be deemed surplus to the education department’s requirements. Future options for the site will be considered by the council and could include demolition.
