A garden centre has hit the market for £1.45m after its owner unveiled plans to build five homes on connected land.

Preston Garden Centre and its licenced Coppers Bistro, near Canterbury, is touted on the open market as having “huge scope for growing the business”.

The store’s family-run owners, who recently extended the bistro, revealed plans last year for 10 homes on adjoining land they labelled “surplus to requirements”.

After planning chiefs quashed the proposals a separate bid for nine homes was launched – but also rejected.

This year, a new scheme was submitted to Dover District Council outlining plans for five new homes on the same land.

Planning officers are yet to make a decision.

Today, the Preston-based garden centre and restaurant, situated off The Street, went up for sale with Christie & Co in charge of selling the site.

In its description, the estate agent says the property “offers huge potential for a purchaser to acquire a garden centre with a fantastic restaurant, shop and large plant area with huge scope to grow the business”.

Across its two acres, there is a shop, a large plant area, display gardens and a number of glasshouses.

The brochure states the site houses other buildings, which “could be repurposed to create further retail areas or additional storage”.

The restaurant is described as being popular with passers-by, with the blurb adding: “A beautiful eatery with a central feature log burning stove and a high specification commercial kitchen”.

Coppers Bistro was built in 2018 and is fully licensed to open seven days a week from 11am to 11pm.

It is understood existing staff could be kept on but a new operator is expected to buy the freehold and run the business.

The restaurant manager, garden centre boss and a team of staff across both sections operate the site.

Christie & Co reports the firm had a turnover of £883,440 for 2021 and £797,208 for 2022.

Current boss Dan Cannon-Skeet, who took over in January with his partner, declined to comment when approached by KentOnline.

But he noted the sale would be as a going concern – an accounting term for a business that is assumed will meet its financial obligations.

In November, he told KentOnline road closures in Preston had been disastrous for his then-business and other firms in the village.

“I reckon it’s cost us thousands in lost trade because customers can’t get to us or have been put off by the continual diversions,” he said.

“Some have even cancelled their bookings because of it and we have had to cut staff hours as a result.”

The section of the garden centre which could be turned into housing is not included as part of the sale.

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