Council gives planning consent for Dobbies Shepton Mallet
Mendip District Council’s Planning Board has granted planning permission for a new Dobbies Garden World at Fosse Lane. Shepton Mallet.
The horticulture, retail and leisure destination is expected to create between 80-100 full and part-time jobs in the local area. The centre will be 2,605 square metres, will compromise a mixture of inside and outside space and will replace the now empty Tesco store at Fosse Lane. The cost of the redevelopment is around £6.5million.
The new Dobbies World will include an extensive range of indoor and outdoor plants, horticulture and gardening products, garden and conservatory furniture, specialist aquatics as well as gifts and accessories. A light and airy contemporary restaurant, with a conservatory and outside eating area, will offer an extensive menu of freshly prepared meals, using ingredients sourced locally when possible.
Horticulturally trained staff will be on hand to give advice and assistance and there will be a regular programme of in-store events to educate and entertain everyone from the gardening novice to the seasoned horticulturalist.
Internally the existing Tesco store will be completely refurbished and substantially remodeled to create a modern garden centre environment. Externally the Shepton Mallet Dobbies World will be set within beautifully landscaped grounds with a range of plants, trees, pots, shrubs, water features and sound sculptures to inspire and welcome visitors to the centre. The outside of the existing building will be refreshed and softened using local natural materials.
Stuart Wright, Director of Property at Dobbies, said: “Our aim is to provide quality, range and value to garden and horticultural enthusiasts, as well as an enjoyable leisure experience. We are delighted to have received planning permission and are looking forward to opening Dobbies World Shepton Mallet in the Spring.”
250 car parking spaces and three coach parking bays will be provided free-of-charge and the site will also be safely accessible by foot, cycle and bus.
Dobbies is committed to using resources as efficiently as possible to prevent pollution during the building and the running of its centres. The ongoing management and operation of the centre will also 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.
