£8m garden centre could create 120 jobs
GARDEN centre chain Dobbies intends to submit plans for an £8m ‘environmentally friendly’ outlet in Merseyside which will create 120 new jobs.
The Scottish company intends to construct the new garden centre from sustainably-sourced timber and other natural construction materials in Speke.
It will also include a range of environmentally-friendly features including energy efficient lighting and extensive rainwater recycling.
The Dobbies Garden World development is proposed on a 8.78 acre gateway site off Speke Boulevard, on the approach road to Liverpool John Lennon Airport on a site the company has purchased from Peel Land and Property Limited.
It will offer more than 10,000 plants, shrubs and trees and include extensive outdoor areas and a specialist aquatics department within an attractive landscaped environment.
The centre will also house a ‘Farm Foodhall’ offering locally-grown produce from Merseyside and Cheshire and a restaurant.
Stuart Wright, director of property at Dobbies, said: “Our Speke Garden World will bring over 120 jobs to Liverpool and will encourage an environmentally-friendly approach to 21st century living where all the family can enjoy planting and growing.
“We want to help boost the local economy in a sustainable way by providing jobs for local people. We will also be working with Merseyside and Cheshire suppliers to fill our Farm Food hall shelves, feature on the menu of our restaurant and provide the huge range of gardening and plant products.”
Peel Land and Property, part of the Peel Holdings Group which also owns Liverpool John Lennon Airport, is planning a further development adjacent to the proposed Dobbies site.
Roger Wheeldon,a senior development surveyor from Peel Land and Property, said: “Dobbies is a fantastic garden centre business which will bring an excellent development to South Liverpool and add to the growing range of leisure and business facilities in this part of the city.
“Peel was very pleased to be able to work with Dobbies on this development.”
An exhibition on the Dobbies proposals will be held at the Parklands City Learning Centre in Parklands Library, Conleach Road, Parklands, Speke tomorrow between 2pm and 8pm.
