Thorp Arch Retail Park’s unit’s have stood empty, apart from The Great British Diner, since 2019 after DFS relocated to Clifton Moor.
Now, a new garden centre is planned to be developed on the land, near Tadcaster, with a Planning Pre-Application submitted in April 2025 and Leeds City Council responding in June.
Discussions for the full Planning Application between the relevant parties are underway.
Several plans had been made for the site. Most recently, in 2022, a Tong Garden Centre was planned to be built on the former munitions factory site.
Due to delays in the major planning application, lasting 13 months instead of the target 13 weeks, for the Tong development, the plan no longer was able to come to fruition.
Tim Munns, Director of Wharfedale Property Management, who are the managing agents for the site, said: “Things had changed for them [Tong] in that 13 months. So, they are no longer able to proceed at that point.”
Inside the Great British Diner (Image: Freddie Loach)
A new, unnamed, garden centre has now started the process of taking over this space.
Mr Munns would not reveal the name of the new company, but described them as probably the biggest, big box, garden centre in the UK, with over 50 stores.
He says planning permission is hoping to be completed by the second quarter of 2026, with construction due to be done and the centre opening in the Christmas Period of 2027.
The only occupant of the retail park for the past six years has been Tim Wharton and his diner.
Formerly, Tim’s Café, the Great British Diner brings customers to Thorpe Arch on a daily basis. He serves many of the workers on the industrial estate as well as customers who come to Thorp Arch specifically for him.
If the plans for the new Garden Centre were to go through, he may have to relocate. Discussions have taken place between Mr Wharton and Mr Munns about where he would go, and the current suggestion is Queen Mary’s House.
The former Moores Furniture office is named as such due to its three burning towers bearing a resemblance to the RMS Queen Mary which had three smoke funnels. This would mean that The Great British Diner would remain on the estate still.
Mr Wharton said: “Would I welcome moving? Yes I would. Would I like to stay? I’m sure I could live with them.”
He continued: “To give me a part of that would be fabulous.”
With no concrete plans as yet, Tim Wharton and his diner will remain in their established place where his customer base has grown to know and love.
*All words and pictures by journalism student Freddie Loach
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