A NEW café and workshop can be built at Plant World near Gillingham following the approval of plans.

The family-run garden nursery has been granted permission to build an L shaped building for the café and a rectangular building for the workshop on an area immediately adjacent to the existing buildings at the site.

Plant World has been “gradually developed” over the last 30 years, the application said.

READ MORE: Garden centre bids for cafe, workshop and seven new homes on site

Planned elevations for the cafe Picture: Brimble Lea

As part of the plans, the access to the existing nursery will close with a new vehicular access created off the B3092 and a private road which will also serve the existing garden centre.

10 new car parking spaces will also be created as part of the plans, bringing the total parking spaces to 51 – with 12 bicycle spaces also included.

The plans were supported by Gillingham Town Council who regarded the planned new access off the B3092 as an improvement.

The council also said the café would help boost the local economy and provide an opportunity for employment.

Workshop plans Picture: Brimble Lea

The council’s comment on the plan reads: “Following the loss of the village shop and post office the proposals will provide a community hub for Milton-on-Stour.”

It added: “The site is not located within a conservation area.

“The proposed café and workshop have been designed and located to be visually unintrusive and will not have a detrimental effect on any designated or non-designated heritage asset.”

The garden centre also submitted plans to build seven new homes on land adjacent to the site in Milton on Stour, but this application is yet to be decided.

To view the plans for the new café and workshop, log on to dorsetcouncil.gov.uk and search planning reference P/FUL/2024/01782.

To view the plans for seven new houses, search P/FUL/2024/01781.