Bradford Council has passed Tong Garden Centre's £4 million plans for a new two-storey building, a new plant canopy, a bespoke soft play and event space and the development of the lakeside area with log cabins for educational and horticultural use. 

MD Mark Farnsworth said he was delighted to be able to continue with the work that started three years ago to turn Tong into one of the UK’s top destination garden centres.

“We have had such positive feedback from our customers about our progress so far that we have taken these plans to the council well ahead of our original plan,” he said.

Contractors have been appointed and work will start in January, with completion of the plant canopy scheduled for March and the oft play and event space to be open by the summer.

Farnsworth added: “Whilst we are, and always will be, a garden centre led by gardening products, we will now be so much more than a garden centre. The soft play and events space will be a great addition to our facilities.”

Since Farnsworth and his business partner, Tom Megginson, acquired Tong Garden Centre in 2015, they have invested more than £2 million in improvements. The business now provides employment for 160 people, with more than 200 expected by the time the work has finished in June.