Visitors at a busy garden centre could be in for a distinct change of scenery after bosses won a long-fought tussle to build homes on site.

Preston Gardens and Coppers has won outline planning permission to roll out five houses on its land off The Street near Canterbury.

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

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

Yet a recent scheme submitted to Dover District Council outlining plans for five new homes on the same land has been approved.

Now, land adjacent to the horticultural store - currently used for storage - can be converted into a group of three and four-bedroom homes.

Sterling Architecture said in plans to the district council those living in the new properties will help boost the economy.

“The proposal is to create a small residential development comprising five dwellings with new access road and footway, and retaining garden centre access and storage to the rear of the site,” the plans say.

“These proposed dwellings will benefit the sustainability of existing businesses including the shops, the public house and the café bistro.

“The application site is very central in the village improving the likelihood of those businesses being used by the residents of this proposed development.”

Preston Parish Council opposed the scheme, arguing its appearance will be out of character with the rest of the village.

But Sterling say the clay tiles, black and white weatherboarding and red brickwork they plan to use will “reflect the local style.

It comes as the owners looked to sell the establishment for £1.45 million in February with Christie & Co.

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”.

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.

Other objectors to the housing scheme include residents who say large houses are not what the village needs and that local first-time buyers are being pushed out of the area.

“There is absolutely no need for any more over priced 4/5 bedroom houses within the village when there are already a vast amount up for sale and not selling,” commented Ione Marsden.

“This also further pushes the opportunity for the younger generation of the village to have any chance of getting on the property ladder to live in the village have been born and bred in.

“Locals are being pushed out by these constant builds being approved.

“They are simply not needed and is ruining the beautiful village and bring no value to the locals or current next generation of Preston locals.”

District council officers have given the scheme a provisional green light.

Developers will now need to provide more details about the development before full planning permission can be granted.