A planning application has been submitted on behalf of Klondyke Properties Ltd to redevelop Wilmslow Garden Centre, which was destroyed by fire in June last year.
The re-establishment of the garden centre will ensure the retention of staff who were employed at the garden centre prior to the fire and create six new positions.
The site on Manchester Road has now been cleared of the structures and debris and the planning application proposes to replace the garden centre with a main enclosed garden centre building, an open sided canopy, restaurant and kitchen, customer toilets, staff facilities and store.
In September 2009 planning approval was granted for the erection of open sided canopies and an extension to the existing restaurant to provide additional seating and an education classroom. This comprised a total of 945m2 of new building area which was not implemented, but it is now proposed to include this approved floorspace within the redevelopment of the site.
The planning application, submitted by Pleydell Smithyman Limited, states "This is a very difficult time for our clients and they are keen to get the business re-established as quickly as possible.
"The simplest way to do this would be to replace the buildings as they were. However, the previous arrangement was not ideal because of changes in floor levels, the lack of flexibility offered by the range of buildings. In part the buildings did not comply with current regulations in respect of disabled access and building regulations.
"These unfortunate circumstances provide a good opportunity to improve the site and to address the issues that are inherent in a site which has developed over time.
"It is the intention of this planning application to replace the garden centre in its general form and parts as quickly as possible to limit the effect on trading and employment."
The planning application for the redevelop of Wilmslow Garden Centre, reference 11/4367M, can be viewed on the Cheshire East website, the closing date for comments is Wedensday, 11th January 2011.
