Vets seeking to move into Belton Garden Centre
Plans have been submitted to change part of a garden centre into a veterinary practice.
The application seeks to convert two groundfloor rooms within Belton Garden Centre into a veterinary practice, which will be independent of the existing garden centre business.
This proposed change of use will not see any alterations made to the existing exterior of the building, nor will any animals be kept on the premises overnight.
Submitted by Orchard House Veterinary, based in Metheringham, the plans will see a small veterinary practice facility developed within the garden centre, which will add another branch to their four practices currently operating across the county in Waddington, Branston and Ruskington, as well as Metheringham.
The site already has a 200 space carpark and in a letter written by the director of Belton Garden Centre, an informal agreement has been made for veterinary clients and staff to make use of the current parking facilities.
With the building in question currently vacant, the planned veterinary practice will not replace any of the existing garden centre.
The veterinary business will run between the hours of 9am and 5pm, Monday to Saturday, and employ four full-time equivalent staff members.
The Belton Garden Centre site has been used as a garden centre for “a substantial period of time”, and has existed as a nursery and walled garden since the
1890s.
The application concluded: “The proposal looks to make use of an existing vacant building to create a service needed locally.
“It will create new employment. It does not change the structure or external appearance of the existing building. It will not adversely affect the existing car parking arrangements. It meets local and national planning policy requirements.”