As a Bradford garden centre prepares to open a second site at Tingley later this year, a planning application has been submitted for a third site.

Tong Garden Centre has submitted a planning application for a sister site at Thorp Arch Estate, Wetherby to  Leeds City Council following a three-year pre-application process.

If the planning application is successful, Thorp Arch Garden Centre will comprise an 8500m2 garden centre with an extensive plant area, Grass Hoppers play area, two restaurants, a Hearty's Food Hall and a second Mission Out adventure play area for 6 -14 year olds. The results of the planning application for Thorp Arch Garden Centre are expected in August.

"If we are successful with the application, we anticipate that the new garden centre will create over 200 local jobs, create lots of career opportunities for our current team at Tong Garden Centre and bring investment to the area," said Tong Garden Centre's MD, Mark Farnsworth.

"The Thorp Arch Estate is equidistant between Leeds, Harrogate and York and benefits from quick and uncongested access to the A1(M) motorway at Wetherby. It's a great location and, should the planning application be successful, we would hope to open Thorp Arch Garden Centre in 2024."

Tong Garden Centre was acquired by Mark Farnsworth and Tom Megginson in 2015 and Tingley Garden Centre will open in autumn 2022.

Tingley Garden Centre will be a £14m garden centre complex that will be home to a 7000 sq. ft. garden centre and an outdoor adventure play attraction for 6 -14 year olds called Mission Out that will open later this summer. It is being developed on the site of the former Acanthus Golf Club off Thorpe Street and will create 250 jobs.

Tong Garden Centre occupies a 19 acre site in Tong village. It is one of Yorkshire's biggest independent garden centres with 125,000 square feet of retail space and parking for up to 700 cars.