Whitehall Garden Centre at Lacock is consulting the local community about plans that would see the centre triple in size and create 150 new jobs in a bid to become a regional tourist attraction.

Previous plans to add a huge extension were first approved by Wiltshire Council in 2008 and amended in 2012 but never carried out. Now the owners, the Self family, aim to consult with local residents before submitting a new scheme for a 14,000 sq.ft. extension. The existing garden centre is around 5,000 sq.ft.

Throughout July, residents will be able to submit comments on the proposed redevelopment, which could see the creation of multiple restaurants, an indoor and outdoor playground and an extension of their existing animal corner.

Whitehall has been a family business since 1894. The family now believe that since the original scheme was drawn up, the market has changed.

They are now hoping for feedback from the community about the phasing, layout, function, safety and efficiency of the new site.

MD Peter Self (above, right, with his buying team) said he hoped the outlet would remain a garden centre destination to compete against national chain rivals, with the aim of making it a tourist destination.

He added: “It is very important to include the community particularly in these plans and we are very pleased of the feedback so far.

“These are challenging and exciting times, the customer expectation is getting ever greater, the competition is becoming price driven and moving online; as a family business we are endeavouring to be intuitive and build on the hard work built up by my grandmother and father to further develop the business to serve the local community and visitors to north Wiltshire.

The proposals feature a level platform throughout the centre to allow ease of access for wheelchair users and pushchairs.

The new buildings have been drafted as ‘Tithe barns’ to complement the style of buildings found in and around the village.

Parish Council chairman Christopher Doel said that concerns councillors previously expressed about the plans, including access, has been “straightened out” with Whitehall.

The proposals envisage the creation of 360 parking spaces, including 35 disabled bays as well as five coach parking spaces and 10 customer collection spaces.

Mr Self added: “After the consultation, we will redraw the plans with the input of the community and hope to submit the application by September.”