Planned Development at Carlisle

Proposed Dobbies Garden World - Orton Grange, Dalston, Carlisle

What’s your view?

A Dobbies Garden World is being proposed on land at Orton Grange, Dalston, Carlisle.

The proposals

Our proposal is to bring a Dobbies Garden World to Carlisle as set out below:

A Dobbies Garden World, which will principally house a modern garden centre, locally supplied farm foodhall, high quality restaurant, and specialist aquatics department, all under one roof.

Heated and external sales area including themed demonstration gardens.

A ‘Greenhouse’ horticultural interpretation centre, aimed at inspiring the gardener to push the boundaries of their horticultural knowledge.

The creation of approximately 120 full and part time equivalent jobs.

The building design

We intend to bring a new generation of garden centre to Carlisle.  The proposed design of the buildings is illustrated in the drawings and the artist’s impression. 

We believe that it is important to select the right materials for our Garden World developments. Use of natural materials in the building exterior helps to ensure that the building sits comfortably within the surrounding landscape.

Innovative architectural features will break up the line of the building frontage, thereby reducing apparent scale.  We propose to use sustainable timber cladding and screening, along with green (plant-clad) wall sections and green (sedum) roofing, features which will soften the appearance of the building as well as emphasise Dobbies horticultural roots.

Careful use of glazing will create an open and welcoming frontage, revealing the horticultural activities within and timber louvred screening will be used where appropriate to regulate solar gain for optimum energy efficiency.

Plant protection canopies will extend along the rear of the building, creating frost protection for early bedding stock.

The landscape

Getting landscaping right is very important with every Garden World we create. In this case we propose a fun and engaging landscape with demonstration gardens, specimen ornamental tree and shrub planting and seasonal colour through herbaceous plant material and bulb planting. 

We aim to enhance views both from within and outwith the site. We propose boundary landscaping consisting of native stock woodland planting, hedgerow and mature specimen trees suitable for the site location and conditions.

We have instructed an ecologist to ensure local habitat is adequately protected and where possible, enhanced. This will tie into sustainable forms of landscape to be implemented through the inclusion of sustainable drainage, native plant material and ecologically sound principles of landscape maintenance.

The experience

We aim to create an exceptional leisure and retail experience, to inspire, to educate and to entertain through the quality of the environment, naturally-inspired product and a level of customer service befitting the experience.

The garden centre will stock a comprehensive range of quality plants, horticultural and gardening products, garden and conservatory furniture, specialist aquatics and water gardening products, stylish homewares, gifts and accessories, all in an inspirational space and setting.

Horticulturally trained staff will be on hand to give assistance and there will be a regular program of in-store events to educate and entertain everyone from school children to people of all ages. The ‘Greenhouse’ horticultural interpretation centre will be open every day to provide a constant source of information, advice and inspiration.

The Farm Foodhall will be the perfect destination for those who love good food, providing delicious, fresh local produce and a mouthwatering delicatessen selection, together with an exciting range of gourmet treats, cookware and gifts.

A contemporary restaurant will provide a pleasant environment in which to enjoy an extensive menu of freshly prepared meals and home baking.

Sustainability

Dobbies is committed to using resources as efficiently as possible to prevent pollution during the building and running of our centres. We aim not only to meet regulatory requirements, but to exceed them wherever possible.

This will include providing a minimum of 10% of our energy requirements from renewable sources and may include the use of wind turbines to generate power and biomass for heat. Wet solar panels are proposed for pre-heating of domestic hot water. 

A ‘grey water’ system will be incorporated to recycle rainwater and a borehole may be used to supply additional water for irrigation purposes. 

All timber used in the construction will be from sustainable sources. 

Our drainage requirements will be planned for in a sustainable way 

The ongoing management and operation of the centre will be guided by Dobbies environmental policy, which aims to continually raise the profile and practice of energy conservation, sustainable sourcing and recycling across the business.

Getting there

We propose that access to our Garden World will be via a new roundabout on the A595 at Orton Grange.

450 car parking spaces are proposed, including designated spaces for visitors with impaired mobility. We also hope to attract visits from organised coach tours, adding further to the tourist attraction of the Carlisle area.

We believe that ensuring accessibility by means of transport other than the car is important. The site at Orton Grange will be safely and conveniently accessible to those travelling on foot (we propose to improve footpaths, where appropriate), by bicycle and by public transport.