A DERELICT plant nursery could be turned into a farm shop, cafe and commercial units if planners give the go-ahead.

Plans have been submitted to Teignbridge Council for the development on the site of a former nursery site at Chudleigh. 

Proposals for the site at Rock Nursery in Station Road, to the south west of the town, also include parking, access improvements and landscaping. 

The site has been redundant for more than 10 years but the new plans are hoping to bring the area back to life, create new jobs and support other local businesses. 

The new owners of the former plant nursery have formally submitted their bid to redevelop the site just off the A38 at the entrance to the town.

In 2019, proposals were submitted for a new farm shop and garden centre with a cafe and a woodland play park, with 100 jobs set to be created. 

But Teignbridge Council planners rejected the scheme in January 2020. 

The nursery has been closed for many years and was originally a garden centre with shop, cafe and parking. 

XL Planning, in a statement with the planning application, says the proposed redevelopment of this brownfield site is considered to be an ‘appropriate’ reuse of the land, that will provide employment opportunities and economic benefit to Chudleigh. 

It states that the mix of uses will support local businesses and provide the ability to shop locally, with local produce being sold by the farm shop. 

The site is well located in relation to the residential expansion of Chudleigh and will provide additional facilities to support the town and assist the community to meet its day-to-day needs, reducing out-commuting, through the provision of additional employment opportunities and services.

It says: ‘This revised proposal has been in part guided by the previous reasons for refusal and consultation responses. 

‘The application seeks to provide a comprehensive full planning application for the commercial redevelopment of the site.

‘The site is well located in relation to the residential expansion of Chudleigh and will provide additional facilities to support the town and assist the community to meet its day-to-day needs, reducing out-commuting, through the provision of additional employment opportunities and services.’

Pedestrian safety will be a priority while there will be provision for bike parking and electric charging points to promote sustainable transport.

The submission says the plans are an opportunity to redevelop a ‘vacant and unattractive brownfield site for employment uses’. 

It adds: ‘At present, this disused site has an untidy and unattractive appearance. 

‘The proposed redevelopment of the site would create a new active use on the edge of Chudleigh, along with an attractive development on this important entrance route into the town centre. 

‘The proposal protects and enhances the site’s biodiversity and increases the overall green infrastructure area on site, as well as providing publicly accessible green space.’

Developers had held a consultation event with the public last autumn to gauge public opinion. 

Details with the application state that 83 per cent responded yes when asked if they were supportive of the scheme, with a further 11 per cent stating they were unsure and only six per cent stating no.