A recent public consultation on the proposed premium Alnwick Garden Centre has revealed encouraging results, with 74% of respondents expressing support for the development.
Northumberland Estates and Blue Diamond, the centre operator, earlier unveiled plans for a new, high-quality garden centre on Cawledge land, east of the A1 near Alnwick. The public consultation, conducted from July 27 to August 24, 2023, provided locals with an opportunity to voice their opinions.
Over 74% of respondents welcomed the idea of a garden centre in Alnwick, and 73% supported efforts to expand the area’s retail offerings.
Blue Diamond, a leading UK garden centre operator with 44 locations nationwide and on the Channel Islands, will occupy the new garden centre. The facility will feature indoor and outdoor plant areas, gardening products, leisure and homeware sections, and outdoor furniture. Spanning a total internal floor area of 8,130 sq. m and an external plant sales area of 3,400 sq. m, the £13 million investment from Northumberland Estates is expected to boost foot traffic, create over 150 new jobs, and enhance Alnwick’s appeal as a retail, leisure, food, and hospitality destination.
The proposed garden centre aligns with Northumberland Estates’ commitment to offering diverse retail options for Alnwick residents. The occupier, Blue Diamond, has pledged to prioritize local goods, aligning with Northumberland Estates’ promotion of regional products.
Colin Barnes, Director of Planning and Development for Northumberland Estates, expressed satisfaction with the strong support for the proposals, stating, “Our objective is to have the premier garden centre in the Northeast situated here in Alnwick and we are pleased that there has been strong support for our proposals.
“A key part of our business objectives is to decarbonise some of our major assets, and we were pleased to see several respondents ask whether the project would incorporate renewable energy. EV charging, rainwater harvesting, and solar panels are being considered as options for the development and will be addressed in the planning application. To improve traffic flow, a new roundabout at the junction of Shilbottle Road, funded by development in the area, including the Garden Centre, is scheduled for construction in 2024″
The consultation, which saw 189 responses, concluded with 71% of respondents favoring the garden centre and retail development. A comprehensive planning application is anticipated to be submitted in 2024.