We are very pleased to have secured planning permission at Central Bedfordshire’s first virtual planning committee for the partial redevelopment of a horticultural warehouse to provide four bungalows at our client’s site at Briar Patch Nursery, Upper Caldecote.

The approved scheme will replace the previously approved Class Q conversion of the horticultural warehouse with four well-designed and sustainable homes, that would not have otherwise been achieved through a simple conversion of the existing warehouse. A landscape masterplan was also submitted with the application to bring greater environmental and ecological benefits to the site.

This permission follows a number of other approvals on the site, including the removal of an agricultural tie on an agricultural worker’s dwelling and the change of use of part of the horticultural warehouse to flexible commercial use. These permissions have allowed the client to increase the value of the Briar Patch site and secure additional working capital to rebuild their rose production business, which has been heavily hit by cheap imports from Eastern Europe and China and inclement weather during 2018.

Furthermore, these applications have coincided with outline approval for a new plant production facility, commercial development of up to 9,275sqm and residential development of up to 35 dwellings at Woodlands Nursery. This has allowed the client to set up an improved production facility to support the growth of the business, including a new contract to supply rose and fruit trees to a major UK retailer.

Indeed, the recent global coronavirus pandemic has had a catastrophic impact on the horticulture industry after the subsequent closure of Garden Centres and we, at DLA Town Planning, are very glad to have played an important role in supporting the client’s business through this difficult and challenging time.

If you would like to see potential value released from your site, please contact us at DLA Town Planning. We are well placed to provide professional guidance on the best route forward, to suit your personal or business needs.