Blue Diamond receives approval for new centre

Blue Diamond, the operator of 17 garden centres in the UK has this week received approval to build a brand, new centre at Thorpe Lane, Tingley, between Leeds and Wakefield.

Previous approval for a garden centre on that site was granted as long ago as 1987, but it was never implemented. New conditional planning permission has now been granted even though the site is located within the green belt.

According to a report supporting the approval, the garden centre, which is expected to bring in sales of £6m in 2017, will provide a "modern and high-quality development" which introduces sufficient benefits to outweigh concerns about the potential impact on the green belt and the likely effect on nearby local centres.

Agreement has been reached for Blue Diamond to operate the site and it is understood that they have been heavily involved in the design of the proposed Tingley building.

The plan is to replicate Blue Diamond's successful flagship garden centre located in Guernsey which incorporates an octagonal building with an open outdoor sales area.

Permission for a total of almost 100,000sq ft of space has been granted, including the main garden centre building and restaurant, outdoor retail and open-sided canopies and walkways. The approval is conditional on further details on matters including drainage, hard and soft landscaping and the external appearance of the proposed building.

Blue Diamond 's history goes back to 1904, originally emerging as the Fruit Export Company on Guernsey in the Channel Islands. The company was created by a group of local businessmen whose family is still involved today.

Source: InsiderMedia.com

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