Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre near Taunton has had the green light to revamp and nearly double the size of its Four Seasons restaurant to meet growing customer demand.
The 950sq m development, which is approximately double the size of the current restaurant, is anticipated to start next summer and be completed by Christmas that year. When finished, it will seat 350 people. Investment in the project will total £1.5million, making it one of the biggest catering investment projects in Somerset.

Monkton Elm managing director Mike Lind said: "We're very proud to have received planning permission to redevelop our restaurant, which will ensure we can continue to meet the high standards our customers expect from Monkton Elm. We want to invest in the future of the business and to continue to be a significant employer in the area...Monkton Elm is a destination, family-orientated garden centre and our food offering is an essential part of this.

As a result of this investment, Mr Lind and his team hope to create more than 10 new jobs across the whole business, which already employs around 90 staff.

He added: "The planners at Taunton Deane Borough Council have been supportive of this project and very efficient in processing the planning application, which will provide a much-needed economic boost to the area.

"During the development of the project, the current restaurant will continue to operate as normal and customers will be largely unaffected by the building work, which will extend across the top section of the outside plant area. We will take all steps possible to minimise any inconvenience to our customers."

The family-run independent garden centre business plans to make the revamped restaurant as environmentally-friendly as possible in terms of heating, cooling and rainwater capture systems.

"The exact details are being finalised during the next few months," explained Mr Lind.

Malcolm Scott Consultants were instructed by Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre to assist with the design and planning of the restaurant expansion.