A barren and overgrown 22-acre plot once home to a garden centre could be auctioned off to fund BMW’s pension pot.
The former Wyevale Garden Centre in Norton, near Faversham, has been derelict for almost two decades and was originally put up for sale for £5 million in 2024.
The former Wyevale Garden Centre in London Road, Norton between Faversham and Sittingbourne is up for sale
Two months ago, the wasteland was reduced to £2.75 million – but a new listing reveals it could be sold for £1.5 million at auction next month.
Auctioneers Acuitus says it is selling the land on behalf of a major UK fund, known to be BMW (UK) Trustees Limited.
It is a private investment fund based at the company’s head office in Farnborough, and manages pension-related responsibilities for BMW employees.
Bosses at the firm say “it operates as a corporate trustee, overseeing the administration and compliance of employee benefit schemes”.
It has owned the land since 2010 – buying it for £600,000 – and has seen efforts to build 67 homes on the site thrown out when it was deemed an unacceptable location for housing.
Despite claiming the site had become a “scar on the landscape”, it sparked protests from residents and was rejected by Swale Borough Council.
Plans to build 67 homes there were rejected
An appeal to the Planning Inspectorate to overturn the decision was also snubbed in May 2016.
Located between Faversham and Sittingbourne, the land has sat vacant since 2008, when disused and vandalised buildings were pulled down
Built in the 1960s, it opened as Norton Ash Garden Centre and was a small, family-owned establishment before expanding across the next two decades.
In the 1990s it was taken over by Country Gardens and later rebranded under the Wyevale banner before closing in 2007.
Acuitus says developers have had positive pre-application discussions with Swale Borough Council in May 2022 regarding a 12-unit industrial estate.
Commercial uses have often been preferred on the land, with previous bids to expand the entertainment aspect on the site granted.
The land off the A2, is now on the market for £1.5 million
A plan to introduce a family attraction based on a range of open-air attractions such as an adventure playground, mini golf, water garden or model train was approved in 2001.
However, planning permission was refused in August 2005 for a revised scheme comprising an enlarged garden centre, associated retailing and outdoor display and leisure areas, an indoor sports centre and a centre for skateboarding and BMX cycling.
It last had permission to operate as a retail space with a restaurant, farm food hall and outdoor leisure park with room for at least 700 cars.
BMW declined to comment when approached by KentOnline.
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