A deal has been struck which could secure the future of Hare Hatch Sheeplands weeks before a pivotal hearing might have signalled its closure.

Owner Rob Scott believes a solution is "within sight" to end the business's costly dispute with Wokingham Borough Council over its use of Green Belt land.

The garden centre near Twyford was threatened by action first triggered in 2012 after more than a dozen planning breaches were identified.

An enforcement notice was issued and amended last year, which staff feared would force the centre to permanently closure.

However Rob Scott revealed this week he had withdrawn his appeal against the notice and shared his hope for the London Road site's future.

Mr Scott said: "We are very pleased to announce we have spent a lot of time and effort discussing matters with Wokingham borough planning officials and our ward councillors for the last few weeks in the hope that we can resolve our planning dispute and get on with planning the next phase for the future of Hare Hatch Sheeplands.

"I have identified a way in which we can resolve the problem without compromising the council's Green Belt policy. There is every reason now to believe that a solution is within sight which will be acceptable to all parties.

"We would like to thank our local councillor Bob Pitts for his help in reaching this point."

An appeal was due to be heard in May to consider the council's claim that the garden centre's expansion was harmful unauthorised development on Green Belt land.

Cllr Pitts, member for Remenham, Wargrave and Ruscombe ward, said: "I am delighted with this outcome and thank borough council officers, Rob Scott and his partners for the time, consideration and support they have given me in forging a potential resolution to what has been a protracted and complicated situation."

Clare Lawrence, head of development management at the council, added: "When planning rules are broken we would much rather work with residents and businesses towards complying with planning regulations rather than go down the enforcement route.

"Any relaxation of Green Belt policy that cannot be justified by exceptional planning circumstances would encourage many others to try and build on the Green Belt, so we had no choice but to take this action. It isn’t something we could have ignored otherwise we would be doing a disservice to the borough’s residents and businesses.

"It has taken a lot of time and effort to get to this stage but we are pleased with the outcome and that Mr Scott has indicated he is going to start complying with the enforcement notice."