Gardenforum’s Review of 2012

Here’s a summary of the news that has filled the Gardenforum pages in 2012. It is dominated by the impact of the weather and perhaps the economy. The story is open to all our readers. See more... Read more - open to all

Large Norwich garden centre for sale

Highway Garden & Leisure, a large modern garden centre near Norwich, has been brought to the market by Quinton Edwards. See more... Read more - members only

New garden centre for North Lincolnshire

North Lincolnshire is to get a new garden centre. Willows will open in February at Glentham, near Market Rasen. See more... Read more - members only

Garden & Leisure win permission for Waitrose co-development

Garden & Leisure has finally won permission to redevelop Percy Thrower's Garden Centre. When completed the site will have a Waitrose supermarket alongside a new, larger garden centre. See more... Read more - members only

Opportunity to lease large new garden centre

Gilbert Evans is offering the opportunity to lease a new 50,000 sq ft. garden centre in an existing factory outlet at Castleford. It will be ready for spring 2014. See more... Read more - members only

Plans go in to redevelop Percy Thrower’s Garden Centre

A planning application has been submitted to redevelop Percy Thrower’s Garden Centre twelve months after Garden & Leisure revealed the possibility of sharing the site with Waitrose. See more... Read more - members only

Twyford Garden Centre surprised by planning refusal

The proposed £2m development of Hare Hatch Sheeplands has been rebuffed by Wokingham District Council. The owners were surprised by the outcome and plan to appeal. See more... Read more - members only

Barton Grange delays start of Bolton upgrade

Barton Grange has put redevelopment plans for its Bolton garden centre on hold, while further work is done on the details. See more... Read more - members only

G&L puts Percy Thrower/Waitrose plans on display

Garden & Leisure’s plans to redevelop Percy Thrower Garden Centre and add a full size Waitrose will go on display later this month. See more... Read more - members only

Gardenforum's Review of 2011

Gardenforum's Review of 2011 tracks the year's trading and events. It also shows the high number of garden centres and nurseries that are investing despite the difficult economy. This review is open for all to read, see more... Read more - open to all

Old Roundstone GC to close after Christmas

Haskins is to close Roundstone Garden Centre on Jan 6th in preparation for the opening of a new garden centre on the same site on Feb 27th. It will have the biggest covered plant area in the group. See more... Read more - members only

Questions surround the future of Stapeley Water Gardens

Stapeley Water Gardens is reported to have entered a 30-day consultation process with staff over the future of the garden centre. Local newspapers suggest that Dobbies may be close to a deal for part of the site. See more... Read more - members only

More supermarket interest in garden centres

There has been much activity in garden centre property in the last week. Supermarkets are in prospect for 3 garden centre developments including Peterborough Garden Park. Worsley Hall Garden Centre is to re-open and Sheeplands is to spend £2m. See more... Read more - members only

Garden centres planning developments should move quickly

The Government's proposed planning changes appear to make it easier to develop garden centres but there is a financial sting in the tail. Anyone planning a development is advised to move quickly. See more… Read more - members only

Waitrose to open at a second garden centre

Waitrose plans to open a store alongside one of The Garden Centre Group’s outlets. This follows an announcement in May that it hopes to build on one of the Garden & Leisure centres. See more... Read more - members only

Friday deadline for offers on Whiteleys Garden Centre

Bids for Whiteleys Garden Centre must be submitted by Friday. Sales at the £2m turnover garden centre near Huddersfield have held up well since it went into administration. See more... Read more - members only

Alfords in Grimsby is for sale - Updated

Alfords Garden Centre in Grimsby has been put up for sale as the owners plan to retire. They wish to sell as a going concern but there is also the potential for development. See more… Read more - members only

Dobbies given thumbs-up for King’s Lynn

Dobbies’ first joint store with Tesco has been approved by planners at Kings Lynn. Work should start next spring. See more... Read more - members only

One Garden Centre expands, another is to close

Honiton Garden Centre has a new name following redevelopment. Further north, Greenhouse 2000, is to be shut down and sold by Stoke-on-Trent City Council. See more... Read more - members only

Keydell Nurseries tries again

Last August, Keydell Nurseries had planning permission refused for a new garden centre despite local officers recommending approval. Now they are offering to pay for traffic calming measures. See more... Read more - members only

Energy Legislation threat to older garden centre buildings

Malcolm Scott warns that energy regulations mean that it will become illegal after 2018 to sell, or even lease part of, a garden centre whose buildings do not meet a minimum level of efficiency. It may have to be upgraded or replaced first. See more... Read more - members only

Dobbies look set for York approval but...

After 5 years, Dobbies' plans for a garden centre in York get a recommendation for approval from planning officers. But comments to Yorkpress question the location. See more... Read more - members only

Klondyke takes on Beverley Garden Centre

Klondyke Group has taken the lease of Beverley Garden Centre, which was closed by the Garden Centre Group after Christmas. See more… Read more - members only

Wind removes roof of Sussex garden centre

Tate's South Downs Nurseries was up and running within 24 hours after wind removed the roof of its coffee shop on Jan 2. Click on link below for full story and photo Read more - members only

NatWest backs Planters with £1.6m to buy Bradley

NatWest advanced £1.6m to Planters Garden Centre to fund the purchase of Bradley Nursery and Garden Centre in Stafford. It is the second site to trade under the Garden King banner. See more... Read more - members only

QE sells two garden businesses in the North

Quinton Edwards has sold 2 small garden centres in the North of England and says it is easier to sell small garden centres as the purchasers are more likely to raise the capital. See more... Read more - members only

New owners for Beverley, if planners allow

The Garden Centre Group is not renewing its lease on Beverley Garden Centre. Another group is poised to take over, if planners agree to adjust the planning in time. See more… Read more - members only

Big expansion plans for Bents

In its quest to be the best in everything it does, Bents has disclosed that it is planning a big expansion over the next 10 years as it aims to become the ‘Trafford Centre’ for garden, home and leisure shopping. See more... Read more - members only

Blue Diamond acquires Fryer’s Garden Centre, Cheshire

Knutsford- based Fryer’s Garden Centre has completed a deal to sell the family-owned garden centre and award-winning rose growing business to Blue Diamond Garden Centres of Guernsey. See more... Read more - members only

Alexander Mackie sells Roots and Shoots Garden Centre, Suffolk

Garden centre agent Alexander Mackie Associates has announced its second sale of a garden centre on behalf of clients, within a week. See more... Read more - members only

To see earlier stories - Look in the News Archive