An Aberdeen garden centre is hoping to bloom with plans to expand.
The proposals for Ben Reid Nursery and Garden Centre in Aberdeen would see a new coffee shop and outdoor event area installed.?The independent company has been running a garden centre at Countesswells Road since 1985, but has operated at the site for 250 years.
The plans have been lodged so the firm can continue to compete with larger retailers.?Pleydell Smithyman Ltd has put forward the proposed development on behalf of the garden centre.?It is claimed the addition of a coffee shop could increase turnover by 25% and a new events room will have talks and demonstrations.?Planning documents lodged with Aberdeen City Council said: ?It is proposed to add an extension to the main garden buildings, wrapping around the existing customer toilets in order to provide a customer coffee shop.?This will include kitchen, server and customer seating areas, as well as an events room.??The events room will be available for pre-booked garden centre events such as horticultural talks or crafts demonstrations.
?Our clients have recognised that coffee shops are an integral part of today?s garden centres and customers expect to find such a facility when they visit.?Outdoor coffee shop seating will be provided within a courtyard which will be created by the addition of an extension to the garden centre shop.?
The current shopping area at the premises will also be extended if the scheme is given approval, while a new entrance will be created. There are currently two storage areas on the site and the plans would see one of these turned into offices and a new specialist retail building created.?Part of the land on the site will also be used to keep animals.?The report said: ?It is proposed to add an informal events/animal area on the nurseryland situated to the south east, this will be for keeping animals for the enjoyment of the visitors to the site.?
