In This Issue
Blue Diamond secures the first garden centre purchase of the year
Waitrose store plan at Van Hage Great Amwell is back on the table
Garden centre expansion lifts sales at Brantano
Perrywood's Rising Star urges garden centre staff to sign up for 2015 programme
Oil price drop will lead to a good year for garden centres
Simply Sales continues sales support for Scotts Solus Brands
Sales of lighting products shine brightly in GTN Bestsellers chart
Crest Garden bring clarity to the world of secateurs
The secrets of leadership...by the Army's only female Brigadier
Glovies for Garden ReLeaf Day storm Germany after launch at GCA Conference
Cowells and Barton Grange keep their grip on GCA top awards
Conference fun raises an impressive £13k for Greenfingers charity
Squire’s Christmas Charity Appeal delivers a New Year cheer
Cabbages beat Pansies in 5th Annual Greenfingers Challenge Cup
Gardening celebs get ready for 2015 Greenfingers Garden Re‐Leaf Quiz
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Wyevale Nurseries takes on Earlswood Plants cash & carry business
Taylors continue to dominate Top 10 Veg-2-Gro bestsellers
Stewart Garden launches 2015 catalogue
Jack’s Magic stays at No 1 for another week
Darlac adds more new tools to range
New market update for landscapers launched
HTA to exhibit at Spring Fair
Sinclair shoot TV commercials in South Africa
Martin Breddy leaves Scotts in company restructure
Garden RELEAF goes "down under"
CRoP Clinics to help HTA members save money
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Waitrose store plan at Van Hage Great Amwell is back on the table


Controversial plans to build a Waitrose supermarket at Van Hage garden centre at Great Amwell have been revived.

The plans had been withdrawn just hours before East Herts District Council’s planning committee was due to discuss them on December 10 last year. They have now been resubmitted.

Waitrose wants to Waitrose to relocate to Van Hage Great Amwell store when its Bircherley Green shop in Hertford closes in 2016.

"These plans us the opportunity to provide an improved store in the region,” said a Waitrose spokesperson.

Bircherley Green Shopping Centre has been deemed unsuitable for future growth, despite an earmarked £40million revamp by developers Wrenbridge, which includes a supermarket twice the size of the current store.

A website promoting the Van Hage development states the new site would mark an increase of capacity from 12,500 sq ft to 25,000 sq ft.

The retail giant states: “It would not be fair to Hertford or the people the store would employ to progress a scheme which was not viable, as well as operationally challenging, and at risk of closing in the future so it is not an option we are able to consider further.

“Our aspiration has always been to retain a presence in Hertford, but only if we could find a viable opportunity for us to do so, which has not been possible at this time.”

The retailer also claimed the new site would provide it with “a modern branch” with “vastly-improved parking."

Before the withdrawal of the proposal in December, it had been recommended it for refusal.

Council planners had criticised the proposal, stating it would be an “inappropriate development” of the green belt and damage the town centres of Hertford, Ware and Hoddesdon.

But Van Hage's Chris Roberts, says: “I’m feeling quite positive about it, I think there’s a good chance it will be approved, but it depends on the planning officer and the councillors.

“We feel we have been able to address some of the issues that were fed back out. It’s a very solid application and it will be very good for the community and Van Hage.”

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