Up to 60 new jobs are likely to be created as glass houses covering 75 acres are being constructed on the edge of Spalding.
The huge buildings will be big enough to house more than 45 football pitches and will be a major landmark for South Holland.
The development will see horticultural company Bridge Farm Group producing the area’s famous tulips under glass.
A range of ornamental plants and other cut flowers will also be grown on the site at Clay Lake Road, on the junction with the A16.
The company, which has the Neame Lea brand, was subject to a management buy-out last year and is investing £18m into the scheme.
There are currently 200 full-time and 400 seasonal workers and the expansion will secure those positions and create around 60 new roles.
It already has contracts to supply Tesco and Aldi, among others, and was named Grower of the Year at a prestigious industry awards ceremony in 2017.
Chief executive of the Bridge Farm Group, David Ball said the first phase of the new development should be finished in April with some growing on site likely to start before then.
“We will be buying in a lot of products and will be growing a range of decorative horticulture along with some cut flowers – including tulips,” he said.
The company already operates a ten acre site at Horseshoe Road, Gosberton, which it will be retaining.
Aside from the Neame Lea brand, the group also operates the Zyon brand.
Mr Ball said the company has invested in low cost production and operational efficiency and this expansion would secure the hundreds of existing jobs as well as create new ones.
He led a management buyout of the over all group last year.
Over the next few weeks the main structures of the glasshouses will start to take shape on the new site, as the initial stages of the groundwork for the project comes to an end.
The glasshouses will be heated using a biomass boiler and ventilation throughout the complex will be automatically operated.
The development will be state-of-the-art and when complete it will be one of the biggest buildings in the country.
With automated handling, the development will enable the company to handle greater numbers of orders and reduce its carbon footprint.
It will come in at around 280,000sqm, about the same size as 28 rugby pitches.
Speaking at the time of the original announcement, Mr Ball said: “With our existing capacity, a new development represents the next logical step. The new facility will feature a range of state-of-the-art machinery and automation.
“We are working closely with South Holland District Council and we are hugely appreciative of their support in recognising the importance of the growing industry in Spalding and to the wider Lincolnshire economy.”
The news comes hard on the heels of the creation of further jobs as discount store B&M looks to move into the former Homebase store in Spalding which closed recently.
The application has been submitted to South Holland District Council for the store, which will be run alongside the company’s existing site in Winsover Road.
