Kirton garden centre site granted permission to become car sales and MOT centre

Part of a garden centre site has been granted permission to become a car sales and MOT centre.

An area of the Rainbow Landscaping Centre at Kirton was given the green light to change use by Boston Borough Council planners.

The work had already been completed and planning permission was granted retrospectively.

“It is proposed to change the use of part of the site to a vehicle workshop and MOT centre, car sales display area and sales office,” the officer’s report stated.

“The previous use was for storing products for the garden centre, which also forms part of the site.”

The relevant part of the site was previously used for storage.

The London Road garden centre - which also has The Grange restaurant at the complex - continues to trade.

“The application site includes a retail area and restaurant, barns and car parking area with access points off London Road and Fishmere End Road,” the report added.

“There are a cluster of residential dwellings to the south west of the site, most notably The Bunglaow and The Orchard, which directly border the public car park for the site.”

BBC received one letter of objection from a resident.

It asked why three MOT and car sales business were needed within a mile from each other in a rural location and questioned why the proposal was constructed without planning permission.

The letter also raised concerns regarding noise pollution, and the MOT centre impacting the rural area.

Environmental Health did not object to the plans, requested that a condition be added to the approval to restrict the hours of operation, and that any vehicle repairs are made inside the workshop building to protect the amenity of the neighbouring dwellings.

BBC granted applicant Pauline Pocklington permission to proceed with the plans, stating ‘the proposed development will not have any significant adverse impacts upon: the character and appearance of the surrounding area, the amenity of the neighbouring dwellings, highway safety or flood risk and drainage’.