Public inquiry will rule on Hants garden centre plan
Published: 7 January 2013
A Hampshire garden centre is hoping that a public inquiry this spring will override opposition to a relocation of the business.
Keydell Nurseries - whose family owners have been farmers and growers in the area for over a century - operates from a site at Havant Road in Horndean. However, the owners now want to move the business to their 80-acre farm 2.5 miles away at Rowlands Castle - but have so far had their plans thwarted by local councillors.
Partner David Strange told diyweek.net: "It's a much better site and we want to move to new premises and modernise: what we've got here has been here for 25 years. In turn, this site will be housing, we hope."
He said the relocation plan fulfilled all the planning rules and regulations but that local councillors had gone against the recommendation of the East Hampshire District Council planning officer to approve it.
"They've opposed it because it's a green field site and because of the impact on the landscape," he said. But he explained: "The buildings are of a low height, and we want to have a more environmentally-friendly and sustainable site, with collection of rainwater to go into ecology ponds, extensive landscaping, environmentally-friendly heating systems, maximum insulation of the buildings. And we're going to be employing people. We estimate the garden centre's going to cost between £5m and £7m."
He said the new centre would be about the same size as the existing one, with a retail area of around 60,000sq ft, plus areas for growing.
The plans will now go to a public inquiry, possibly to be held in April. When asked what he would do if the relocation was turned down Mr Strange said: "We haven't got that far yet - but we're optimistic."