Plans for a garden centre and farm shop near Pendle in Lancashire, which could bring provide up to 300 jobs to Pendle are to go before councillors this evening (Thursday).

The application is from Libra Textiles, the parent company of Boundary Mill.

It envisages a development covering 9,040 square metres of land at the end of the M65, on the opposite side of Whitewalls Drive to the Boundary Mill complex.

The garden centre and outdoor sales area would cover 3,335 sq. m., with an outdoor clothing sales area (2,052 sq. m.), farm shop (1,619 sq. m.) and cafe/tea room (417 sq. m.) making up the rest along with a 452-space car park.

Members of Pendle Council’s Colne and District Committee were presented with a detailed 50-page report outlining the plans and the responses of bodies such as United Utilities, the Environment Agency and Lancashire County Council.

United Utilities and the Environment Agency have both asked for a scheme for the disposal of foul and surface waters to be included in the plans as a public sewer crosses the site.

The county council says a significant amount of work has been undertaken to address highway concerns and it has no objections provided safety measures are implemented.

The report says 10 letters of objection have been received from the public, citing concerns about traffic levels and highway and environmental matters.