Work has started on the multi-million redevelopment by The Garden Centre Group at Percy Thrower’s Garden & Leisure at Shrewsbury, first proposed in 2011 by previous owners Garden & Leisure.

The re-build will create a 6300 sq.m. retail unit, and will eventually have a Waitrose supermarket alongside the new destination garden centre.

Features include a restaurant and a separate café, children’s play areas and more car parking. The existing centre will remain open to customers during the build, which is is expected to complete in 2015.

Steve Masters, estates director at TGCG, said the centre would offer customers a more modern, high-quality environment to inspire them in the garden and a delightful family day out.

Building contractor Speller Metcalfe is to oversee the works. Joint MD Steve Speller said: “As a local contractor who knows the area well, we will be doing everything we can to minimise any disruption to customers, which will include keeping the existing centre fully operational and open to the public throughout the building works.

Margaret Thrower cuts the first sod as the contractors move in.