Notcutts have decided not to open a new garden store in Bagshot on the site of their former garden centre (pictured above) which closed in April.

Planning permission has been granted for a redevelopment to comprise a food store, pre-let to Waitrose, and adjoining retail unit. Notcutts have carried out further financial feasibility studies and regrettably concluded that a garden store would not be viable.

Notcutts have met with Surrey Heath Borough Council to inform them of this decision and will shortly commence a marketing campaign to find alternative occupiers for this retail unit.

Notcutts have informed all previous staff of the decision and would again like to thank them and the local community for their loyal support over the years.

Andrew Staff, COO, Notcutts: “We are naturally disappointed not to be able to continue to trade in the area but Bagshot is well served by some fantastic local garden centres and the opening of the Waitrose store in 2015 will ensure local employment is boosted well beyond the number that we were able to employ.”

The Notcutts decision comes a week after Kent councillors turned down the company's plans for an enlarged store on a new out-of-town shopping centre at Newnham Court in Maidstone. The £85 million development would also have included a Waitrose supermarket, Debenhams department store, along with 17 other stores and several restaurants.