Published: March 11, 2008
Garden centre near Burnham-On-Sea to put expansion plans on show

A garden centre near Burnham-On-Sea is opening its doors to the public for a special exhibition where new extension plans for the site will be formally unveiled.

Burnham-On-Sea.com exclusively broke the news earlier this month that Sanders Garden World at Brent Knoll is hoping to extend its premises in a multi-million pound expansion.

Wyevale Garden Centres - which took over the centre last year - will hold an exhibition to display the proposals at the centre on Tuesday March 25th from 5pm until 6.30pm.

Manager Peter Burks said this week: "It is anticipated that work could start this autumn and be completed next summer. The main garden centre building currently covers approximately 28,000 square feet and there is also around 103,000 square feet of outdoor sales area."

"In 2005, under the garden centre’s previous ownership, planning consent was given for an increase of the indoor space to 58,500 square feet and the external space to 150,000 square feet. Wyevale’s new proposals are to marginally increase the size of the covered building to 63,000 square feet and to leave the remainder of the outdoor sales area in its existing state."

Wyevale - which bought the garden centre last year - has already held a number of pre-planning submission meetings with Sedgemoor District Council and it hopes to submit a revised application later this spring.

An element of the scheme will include a new roundabout to improve congestion and traffic flow along the A38. The proposal also means the number of car parking spaces looks set to be increased from 369 spaces to 411.

In 2005, following a planning inquiry, Garden World was granted planning permission to build an extension to the site. The Secretary of State agreed with the Inspector’s conclusions, drawn from information collected at the public inquiry held in Burnham at the end of November 2004, that the proposal ‘promotes economic activity’.

Mr Burks added: "With more than 20,000 visitors every week, Sanders Garden World is already a major destination for people living nearby and tourists alike. We employ a large number of local people and are an integral part of the economy and community."

"We hope as many of our customers, neighbours and local councillors come along as possible so we can show them our plans and chat to them in person about the proposed development. Everyone is welcome."