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A planning application to open a garden centre at the Chowle Farm Industrial Estate on the A420 near Faringdon in Oxfordshire, has been submitted to the Vale of White Horse District Council.
The proposal, from Ferax Planning in Wantage working on behalf of Tapecrown Ltd, includes the re-development of the estate by demolishing a number of existing industrial and former agricultural buildings and the conversion for re-use of other existing buildings.
The garden centre plans to have indoor and outdoor sales areas and a cafe. There will be car parking for 161 cars including 12 for disabled drivers.
Access to the garden centre from the A420 would be improved by the creation of a right hand ghost island, plans for which have previously been approved in 2007.
The plans estimate that the new use will create 25 full time and 20 part time jobs.
The planners regard this proposal as sustainable through the re-use of existing buildings, increasing employment opportunities and by reducing car trips to more distant garden centres.
The plan states that consideration has been given to local wildlife habitat with the existing stream being protected whilst the ponds and wetlands to the north will be managed to enhance bio-diversity and create habitat.
Dominic Lamb, Countryside Officer for South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Council, lodged an objection to the plans stating that the presence of great crested newts and reptiles will need to be established and, if necessary, a suitable mitigation strategy developed. He noted that there could also be potential disturbances to nearby badgers and otters as the proposed retaining structure is shown as being close to the edge of the stream.
