Planters, located on A21 London Road, Hurst Green, Etchingham, aims to reorganise and expand its current site, adding several new features.
These include a new polytunnel, a glass house, a potting shed, and related growing beds for on-site plant propagation and growth.
The plans also propose an additional plant display area, permeable hardstanding, and both hard and soft landscaping.
The garden centre is looking to expand (Image: Planters)
The expansion would take place on the land behind the main garden centre building, which already operates as a commercial centre with a food hall and café.
The new owner has conducted a detailed review of the existing premises and operations, identifying the need to increase productivity, efficiency, and long-term viability.
The centre believes that on-site propagation of plants will not only support financial viability but also create new employment opportunities for the local community.
The centre acknowledged the sensitive nature of its location, both at the edge of the village and within a rural, sensitive landscape.
The expansion would happen on land behind the main building (Image: Planters)
To minimise visual impact, all proposed structures are single-storey with low ridge heights, simple forms, and constructions consistent with storage and horticultural production.
The new propagation area would include a polytunnel, two potting sheds, and a glass house, all to be used for propagating plants for sale on site.
The area has been chosen for its existing screening by trees and hedgerows.
The application says this would help balance the operational needs of the centre with a design that minimises visual impact on the countryside and neighbouring areas.
The natural slope of the land down to a valley would further ensure no harmful impact on the area, it says.
The plans also include an extended retail area, located next to the current retail display area. This part of the plot already has a mix of permeable and sealed surfaces.
The entrance to the garden centre off the A21, London Road (Image: Google)
The proposal includes removing a soil bund and replacing the sealed surface areas with a softer permeable surface, which the centre believes would improve overall operations quality and provide the necessary additional retail area.
This, in turn, is expected to support the economic viability of the existing operation and future growth opportunities.
The plans can be viewed on the Rother District Council planning portal using the reference RR/2025/1803/FULL.
Comments are closed.