Bradford Garden Centre applies for planning permission for a second site

A Bradford Garden Centre has applied for planning permission for a second site in West Yorkshire.

Directors at Tong Garden Centre have applied to Leeds City Council for the erection of a garden centre at the Acanthus Golf Centre, Tingley.

Plans were submitted last week for Tingley Garden Centre, which will incorporate a 400 seater restaurant, a 1000m2 plant area, Grass Hoppers indoor and outdoor play and a 400m2 food hall alongside a large garden centre.

The scheme will incorporate the existing golf centre building as the hub for an adventure play area set in five acres for 8 to 14 year olds.

Should permission be granted, it is anticipated that the development will create over 200 jobs.

Tong Garden Centre's MD, Mark Farnsworth said: "Despite the challenges of having to close temporarily, the garden trade sector has proved resilient to the challenges that Covid-19 has presented, which gives us confidence for the future.

"We have made no secret of our ambitions to be a multi-site operation. We have been working on the Tingley opportunity for over two years, so we feel confident we can deliver a fabulous experience for our visitors. We have learnt many valuable lessons in the five years that we have been growing Tong Garden Centre and we think that Tingley Garden Centre and Adventure Playground will be a great addition to the community in South Leeds.

"If our application is successful, we hope to start developing Tingley Garden Centre in February or March next year, with a view to opening in March 2022."