The owners of Fairways garden centres at Ashbourne and Macclesfield are to build their third centre on a Green Belt site near Coventry.

The new project, planning permission for which was obtained by Malcolm Scott Consultants, is believed to be the first new-build garden centre on a new site for 10 years. The 26-acre site is on the A428 between Coventry and Brandon.

Planning approval includes around 2,400 sq.m. of covered retail space with a restaurant, 350 sq.m.of unheated glass, 698 sq.m. of open-sided canopy and  around 2,200 sq. of open sales area. Tarmac parking for 142 cars plus overspill for 200 is envisaged.

Other features include a terrace overlooking an ornamental pond, a play area, demonstration gardens and a nature conservation area with habitat for protected species.

Malcolm Scott Consultants say they achieved “a good planning result after a lot of negotiation with the Local Planning Authority on a very sensitive West Midlands Green Belt site”.  They believe the centre has enormous potential.

Fairways was founded in 1998, when Pip and Chris Plumb opened their first garden centre at Ashbourne following the success of their pick-your-own farm. In 2008, they acquired the former Macclesfield Garden Centre, redeveloping it over the next two years.

The business has been run since day one by the Plumbly’s daughter, Ally. Most of the expansion and development work over the years has been done by Pip Plumbly and his brother Charlie, who joined the business in 2005.

Fairways Ashbourne was the top-scoring Midlands region centre in last year’s Garden Centre Association standards audit.