PLANNING permission is being sought to demolish buildings at a former garden centre and build a “temporary” restaurant/ cafe.

Eggesford Gardens, which is located around 500 metres south of Eggesford railway station, closed its doors in 2018 and has since “fallen into disrepair”, planning documents say.

Jeremy Burks, whose parents ran Eggesford Gardens from 1981 to 2001, wants to tear down “defunct” buildings and build a temporary restaurant/ cafe “so the site can begin generating income while future maintenance and development work takes place”.

He is also seeking to build covered walkways around the site and a new toilet block.

“The site is considered previously developed land with an established lawful retail use,” planning documents argue.

“This application seeks to reinstate the use of the walled garden, bringing a once much-loved local asset back into productive use for the benefit of the community.

“In total, approximately 1,574 square metres of existing built fabric will be demolished and replaced with 235 square metres of enclosed new spaces, supplemented by an additional 483.5 square metres of covered walkways and seating areas.

“This approach allows for a more sensitive and coherent redevelopment that respects the site’s heritage while providing functional, modern facilities.

“To replace the demolished structures, the following interventions are proposed: cloisters along the north and east sides of the walled garden, providing covered access into and around the garden.

“A new toilet block located along the east wall of the site.

“A temporary restaurant/ cafe in the southeast corner, allowing the site to begin generating income to support future development.

“These interventions are largely contained within the existing walled garden, helping to optimise the site’s potential while maintaining the garden’s historic character.

“The proposed buildings have been designed to meet current operational needs while allowing for the potential for sustainable expansion in the future, securing the long-term viability of the site.”

The “cloisters” would be made of oak timber with steel post supports and slate tile roofs. The restaurant would similarly be made of timber with corrugated metal sheeting as a roof.

Foul drainage from the proposed restaurant/ cafe would be treated via a privately operated package sewage treatment plant, historically used by the former restaurant and garden centre.

All parking spaces would be kept, and there would be 12 dedicated spaces for staff.

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You can see the application on the council’s website under reference 26/00168/FULL.