Major plans to expand popular family-run garden centre near Northampton approved
Plans to expand a popular garden centre near Northampton have been approved this week.
Bell Plantation Garden Centre in Towcester has been given the go-ahead for a major extension that will increase retail space and add new offices.
The site, just off the A5, has been open since 1989 and has grown steadily over the past 35 years. Plans for the expansion were first submitted in June 2025.
The approved scheme will add nearly 15,000 square feet of new shopping space, more than 8,500 square feet of office space, a new covered area and an extended glass canopy for customers, according to planning papers.
Most of the existing buildings will remain, with the new sections designed to blend in with the current look of the garden centre, according to planning documents.
In a planning statement submitted with the application, Bell Plantation Holdings said the expansion would “support a growing customer base and attract more visitors to the area”.
The statement said: “There is a strong and important aim from The Bell Plantation to create a development with a clear identity that meets the expectations of customers.
“The design will help support the local community and reflect the growth and energy around the site.”
It added: "The proposals will deliver substantial benefits, including job creation and retention, private sector investment, improved consumer choice and supporting an existing visitor attraction in Towcester.”
Separate plans for a new standalone commercial building on the site are still awaiting a decision despite a target decision date set by West Northamptonshire Council for July 2025. If approved, the 7,220 sq ft building will be located in the north-western corner of the complex and will include three units of around 2,175 sq ft each.
Planning documents state there has already been interest from a nursery school, restaurant, gym and veterinary clinic to take space in the new building.
Another separate application to expand Belle’s Playbarn – the soft play area within the garden centre – is also still awaiting a decision despite a target decision date of July 2025. If approved, the proposal will see an outdoor storage area converted to create more space for the play facility, which opened in November 2018.
In documents submitted to the council, Bell Plantation Holdings said: “The success of Bell Plantation, which is a good news story for Towcester, means that there is increasing demand for use of existing facilities including the soft play.”
The garden centre employs around 200 people and currently holds a 4.3 out of five-star rating from hundreds of Google reviews.