Grimsby Garden Centre – formerly Alfords Garden Centre – plans to undergo a complete transformation – creating up to 20 new jobs in the area...

A branch of Maidenhead Aquatics opened earlier this year and Edinburgh Woollen Mill will open in the centre next month.

If planning permission is granted, the garden centre will undergo a large-scale redevelopment, including:

• The demolition of an existing building and construction of a new two-story structure to house an extended sales area.
• Extension to the cafe/restaurant to house a new bar and toilets.
• New outdoor cafe seating area.
• A new children's play area.
• New cycle shelter. 
• Relocation of the customer car park to accommodate 70 vehicles and two coaches.
• New signage.
• New plant room housing a biomass boiler.

The centre has been owned by husband and wife team Dee and Peter Skiba since 1993 and has expanded a number of times since its launch as a small nursery.

Dee said: "We are very excited about taking the centre forward. We have been on an adventure since we opened here back in 1993 and this is the next stage of that journey for us.

"The new building alone will be almost 8,000 square feet.

"We are delighted that Maidenhead Aquatics has joined us and Edinburgh Woollen Mill is joining us, and the new building would provide us with room for new craft centres, too."