Popular South Yorkshire garden centre in quaint village announces huge playground expansion plan
The garden centre already employs more than 200 people
Wentworth Garden Centre could be set for a further expansion, with plans to extend a children’s play area.
The garden centre is a major business in the village, occupying grounds which were part of the Wentworth Woodhouse estate.
It was established in 1976 and has expanded significantly in recent years, with new restaurants, retail outlets and other facilities - employing 226 staff.
There is parking for 758 cars and two coaches.
The business is described as “a major destination” in planning papers, bringing more than 400,000 a year to the village.
Now Rotherham Council has been asked for planning permission to extend the ‘family leisure area’ of the business.
There are two play areas, in addition to a family farm - a paid-for attraction - at the Hague Lane site but a planning application states they “are over-subscribed for the facilities available”.
Directors at the garden centre want to move towards a natural setting for play, rather than traditional fixed equipment.
Under the requested development, a new play area would allow children to explore their surroundings, engage in physical play, make friends and use objects to make things, with an environment to allow them to “create their own world”.
To achieve that, the proposal is to locate the new area away from the busiest, retail part of the centre.
The proposal is to site it on a grassed area, which covers around 1,900 square metres, which would be accessed through the family farm, to all control over those using the facility.
There are heritage assets in the vicinity, linked to Wentworth Woodhouse, but the application states: “It is our view that the impact is very much less than substantial for a number of reasons and that the public benefit outweighs any harm arising.
“The fact the site is well screened from views from the park and gardens reduces any visual impact.“The proposal is of a temporary nature having no permanent buildings and therefore causes no lasting harm.”
It is estimated that 7,600 car journeys per year are currently made to the garden centre specifically for the play areas, with more than half of that traffic between June and August.
The application suggests there is enough parking available to meet increased demand.A decision on the application will be made by Rotherham Council.