GUERNSEY could be home to a new groundbreaking garden centre. The Blue Diamond Group has permission in principle to build a 5,000sq.-metre octagonal structure at its Friquet Garden Centre site.
The structure will encircle a large garden area and its inner side will be fully glazed to allow a 360-degree view of it.
The centre will include a restaurant and an exhibition on Guernsey’s agricultural and horticultural past.
‘There’s no garden centre in the UK, or I think the world, that has developed a concept that puts the plant area right at the centre of the building,’ said group managing director Alan Roper.
‘We only have permission in principle and there are a number of details that need to be agreed on by the Environment Department. It’s not your usual design.’
The group was founded in Guernsey 103 years ago and with its turnover for 2008 standing at £33m., it is the fifth-largest garden centre operator in Britain. It has recently bought its ninth, Hazelfield Garden Centre in Newent, Gloucestershire, which joins those in Staffordshire, Worcestershire, Hampshire, Lincolnshire, Wiltshire and Jersey and its local outlets in St Martin’s and the Friquet centre in Castel.
The current Friquet buildings will be demolished and Mr Roper hoped the new centre, like its predecessor, would become an attraction for tourists. ‘They can come in and under one roof they will be able to learn and get a sense of Guernsey’s growing past. The restaurant will also be quite large, with a big seating area.’
The company has also made applications in the UK to build similar centres and is waiting for permission to proceed with those projects.
‘Our customers are constantly looking for the difference factor - we must create an inspirational environment which our customers aspire to,’ said Mr Roper.
It is hoped the new Friquet centre will open in spring 2009.
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