ladywotlunches - a search of the SE23 forum for "Piplings nursery" (which I did at the time) did not reveal this information, unless you think I should have trawled the threads for one which starts 'Planning application', on the off chance that it might have been relevant? Why should any parent assume that there is an issue such as this that needs investigating? Should the current parents (and indeed me at the time) have requested copies of the title deeds, to ensure the nursery was not operating contrary to a restrictive covenant?