August 18, 2005
Sanders Garden World wins battle to double in size
Bosses at Sanders Garden World, near Burnham-On-Sea, are celebrating this week after hearing that the Secretary of State has granted them planning permission to build a 30,000 square foot extension to their site which will effectively double its size.
The directors at Garden World said they are pleased with the decision, which comes after a long battle stretching back more than four years with planners and councillors. The company issued some harsh words towards local councillors who refused to give their backing to the scheme.
Peter Burks, Sanders Garden World Managing Director, said: “We are all delighted with the outcome, however it has been a long wait and comes at a cost of several hundred thousand pounds in professional fees alone.
“We will now start planning the redevelopment process including assessing the cost of the additional infrastructure required. Provided everything goes to plan, we could start building as early as next year.”
In addition to the expansion of the garden centre, the company hopes to build a new roundabout providing safer access onto the A38 plus new footpaths and a cycle path from the centre to Burnham-On-Sea.
Directors at the centre say that more than 100 new jobs will be created by the proposed scheme, bringing the total employed on site to 250 people.
In the letter to Sanders Garden World’s representatives, the Secretary of State agrees with the Inspector Alan Novitzky’s recommendation to grant planning permission.
The letter goes on to say that the Secretary of State agrees with the Inspector’s conclusions, drawn from information collected at the public inquiry held in Burnham-On-Sea at the end of November 2004, that the proposal “promotes economic activity.”
He also said that he considered that the garden centre as it stands or as proposed is “not likely to attract tourist trade in a manner harmful to local centres, in particular to Burnham-On-Sea” and agrees it “would benefit economic activity through the provision of further jobs.”
Peter 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 are an integral part of the economy and community.”
The Secretary of State goes on to grant “planning permission for an extension to the existing garden centre building, new stores building, additional car parking and an extension of the site to include the pond area.”
Garden World Director Chris Sanders, who was also delighted with the outcome, attacked local councillors for refusing to give their backing to the scheme.
He said: “A facility that will bring benefit to the whole area has been delayed by at least two years and maybe more. It is right and proper that large applications such as this should be subject to the full scrutiny of the planning system, but it is totally unacceptable that local tax payer’s money should be squandered in a futile attempt to use the process to delay the decision.
“Burnham-On-Sea town councillors have opposed this application, which was approved by Sedgemoor Council and supported by officers, at great expense and now the ratepayers will have to pick up the bill.
“If we are to encourage economic development and bring jobs and prosperity to the area, the council must adopt a more progressive and constructive approach towards business development, the status quo is unsustainable and we cannot continue to resist change.”
RELATED LINKS:
Town Council statement on Garden World expansion
