Expansion work at Laylocks Garden Centre is underway

Work is underway at the expansion at Laylocks Garden Centre in Cotheridge near Worcester, with the aim to open the new development in March 2024. 

Hannah Warr, a director at the centre, said: "We are excited, everyone has been telling us they are excited by the new expansion. 

"It will put the centre on the map."

The expansion will lead to the centre having more than 650sqm of retail space; an expanded restaurant; a brand-new layout with an entrance and a newly developed plant and landscape area. 

The centre is also promising a larger home & lifestyle department and a bigger Christmas department "to make the festive season as magical as possible".

CENTRE: Artists impression of Laylocks Garden Centre (Image: Malcolm Scott Worcester)The director said they were currently "quite small" on the retail side but once the expansion is completed the centre would have "everything you can imagine for the garden" available to buy. 

The director said there would be around a five to 10 per cent increase in staff numbers once the new development is built and opens. 

"We started a 10-year development in 2020 - this is the biggest we have done," the director said. 

UNDERWAY: Work is underway on Laylocks Garden Centre (Image: Hannah Warr)

"We waited a year to let things to settle down after Covid, and to get things back to normal."

The director added that they would be staying as family-run and didn't want to be commercialised, the centre having been in Hannah's family for more than 40 years.

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Planning permission for the centre was granted by Malvern Hills District Council in February 2022 - planning officers saying the garden centre played a key role in the local rural economy which the expansion would boost.

A report said: “The proposal represents an investment in the existing garden centre.

“The garden centre and associated horticultural nursery contribute to rural economic prosperity.

“The proposed development will allow the site to continue and enhance its role within the rural economy without affecting the viability of the nearest shopping centre.”