The future of a former garden centre and nursery in Essex has been left in doubt after plans to create a ‘tropical’ zoo on the site were turned down by the local council.
The owners of Hilltop Nursery in Ramsden Heath had submitted plans to Chelmsford City Council for a small animal, reptile and bird zoo to run alongside the garden centre.
But councillors turned down the application, raising concerns about a lack of details and the impact on green belt land.
Paul Smith, a director of the site’s owners HE Smith and Son Ltd, said without the zoo it may not be financially possible to run the site as a garden centre.
Mr Smith is reported by the Basildon Echo as saying: “It seems Chelmsford City Council was not keen on the idea for the zoo and without some joint venture it will make it very difficult for the garden centre to re-open and be profitable.
“I suppose we are now looking for new ideas on how to make the best use of the site which the council won’t scupper.”