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Demand for nursery places in London is far higher than elsewhere in the UK - but so are property prices and staff costs. Simon Vevers looks at how chains balance the books The vacancy rate in nurseries in Greater London is lower than anywhere else in the UK and 'many have very long waiting lists', according to the recent draft childcare strategy produced by Mayor Ken Livingstone. 'In January 2002 the vacancy rate in London was 5.7 per cent, compared with 10.7 per cent in the UK as a whole,' it points out.

The vacancy rate in nurseries in Greater London is lower than anywhere else in the UK and 'many have very long waiting lists', according to the recent draft childcare strategy produced by Mayor Ken Livingstone. 'In January 2002 the vacancy rate in London was 5.7 per cent, compared with 10.7 per cent in the UK as a whole,' it points out.

While providers have voiced concerns over possible over-provision in some areas in the UK as a result of the Government's conveyor belt of childcare initiatives, these figures suggest a scarcity of provision - and therefore potential rich pickings for nursery chains.

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