An application to demolish Fleet Garden Centre and replace it with nine homes has been refused.
Applegate Homes’ plans to build on Fleet Road were given the thumbs down at South Holland District Council’s planning committee on Wednesday, January 10.
Planning officers had recommended refusal stating the site was unsustainable due to being too far between Holbeach and Fleet Hargate.
Speaking on behalf of the applicant, Clive Wicks, said: “Formerly a partial nursery site its now purely retail following the death of the owner’s husband in 2010.
“You have three years’ accounts which show the owner has subsidised the business.
“Prep advice was given to the owner that said the council would welcome an application on this site.
“This was repeated two months later and this is why we made a full application.
“I think you might agree it’s pretty ugly and not what I would consider to be described as rural buildings and on the same side of the road as other dwellings.
“It’s on a highly sustainable bus route and close to amenities.”
Coun Peter Coupland said: “I’m sorry to hear if the business on the site isn’t really succeeding but that doesn’t mean to say that any future use or even a garden centre may not move on successfully in the future.”
Coun Andrew Tennant argued: “It’s exactly the kind of site that should be considered because it’s an established business.”
However councillors voted to refuse the application.
