In 2015, detailed planning consent was gained on our existing Garden Centre site in Finedon Road, Burton Latimer. This planning consent was for the building of 69 housing units on the site. The consent was implemented and is currently ‘Live’ on North Northamptonshire’s” development register.
In 2021 an application was made to East Northamptonshire Council (Now NNC) for the development of a new Garden Centre on the bypass at Irthlingborough, the postcode is NN9 5QH. This application was approved in July 2023, and will expire in July 2026 if a start is not made on site. The planning reference is NE/21/01799.
Before making a start on site, we have to discharge approximately 15 Pre-Commencement planning conditions. This process began in early 2024, and is still ongoing as at April 2025. When the plans were drawn up in 2020, they were drawn to a size and specification that was felt to fit into our budget.
Since 2021, development costs have increased significantly, indeed the two key materials of Steel and Concrete have increased by around 40%. These increases have undermined the viability of the project to the extent where some changes will need to be made to the development proposal to be able to fund the project.
As of April 2025, we have completed 12 out of the 15 Pre-Commencement conditions. We are “In discussions” with the highways authority about how and when to commit to the section 278 agreement that is needed to make alterations to the highway and create a new access.
Once all the Pre-Commencement conditions have been discharged, we intend to make some “Tweaks” to the design and layout so that the project is viable.
There is no definite timetable as to when we begin to build the new Garden Centre, let alone as to when we open. We do anticipate that the construction phase will take about 12 months to complete, and as we have not started yet, we will be on site here at Burton Latimer until at least Spring/Summer 2027.
Sam & Tania Bosworth April 2025.
