A family-run garden centre business has drawn up plans to create a new retail and office village at its site.
Fletchers Garden Centre, in Eccleshall, has earmarked an under-utilised part of its external planting display area for the site of 12 garden buildings providing 216 sq m of additional retail/office space.
Plans for the scheme have been submitted to Stafford Borough Council following enquiries from small businesses looking for their own space on the Stone Road site.
If planning permission is granted, four small units, four medium and four large units will be constructed, and 12 dedicated parking spaces will be provided adjacent to the site.
A design and access statement submitted with the plans by architectural design and development consultants Barnett Ratcliffe Partnership reads: “The current area is under-utilised and not required as part of the external planting display area to the garden centre. It needs remediation and another use for the space to be found.
“Our client has often been approached by small businesses for independent retail or office space. Therefore, the idea for a small village was formed and a social media poll was greeted with enthusiasm and positivity.”
It adds: “The 12 new workspaces provide much needed accommodation for small start-up businesses which can operate in a pleasant environment, with an established
customer base via the garden centre.
“The proposal provides a much-needed improvement to an under-utilised area that is no longer required for the garden centre facility.”
Fletchers Garden Centre is also home to a retail centre, tearoom, children’s play area and crazy golf course. A dog grooming service is due to open there soon, and the Fletchers site is also linked to the Gentleshaw Wildlife Centre mini-zoo.
Work is currently being carried out there to extend the restaurant and create a new toilet block.
And recent planning applications have also given the green light for a garden centre extension to form an enlarged kitchen area plus a function room, soft play area and other facilities.
The latest plans are currently in a consultation period, with a decision expected to be made in the coming months.
