Member Article

The Landwood Group sell Kent garden centre

The Landwood Group, the leading property surveyors, auctioneers and asset managers, have sold a garden centre and nurseries near Folkestone to Grovewell Gardens Centres for an undisclosed sum.

The 18.5 acre MacFarlanes Garden & Butterfly Nursery, at Hawkinge, near Folkestone, comprised a number of buildings, including a shop, café, former butterfly house, warehouse and owner’s house.

Mark Bailey, director of Manchester-based Landwood Group, explained that Landwood had been appointed as Fixed Charge Receivers in late 2015.

He said: “Over the years the site had become run down and the decision was taken to cease all trading. The site was subsequently offered for continued use as a garden centre or for a variety of possible alternative uses, subject to planning permission.

“Interest was received from a range of parties, some looking to redevelop the property to create a modern garden centre with associated attractions and others looking for alternative uses, including leisure and tourism or residential.

“The site is located in an area of outstanding natural beauty, calling for owners to be sympathetic to the immediate area, which resulted in buyers being able to understand the potential for the future.

“The interested parties were invited to put forward their best offers in writing and an offer from Kent-based Grovewell Garden Centres was accepted by the Receivers. The sale successfully completed in early 2016 and an excellent result achieved.

“We gather that the site is due to be reopened this month as a redeveloped garden and butterfly centre and will be the third site owned by Grovewell. We wish them success,” added Mr Bailey.

Grovewell Director Edward Boult said: “We are very excited by this acquisition. After three very strong trading years it’s great to add a third garden centre to the mix.”

Centre manager Paul Smith will be driving the Folkestone Centre forwards with plans for an Aquatic Centre & Groves Coffee Shop & Restaurant. He said: “We aim to build on the success and reputation of Canterbury and Tenterden Garden Centres. We’ve been overwhelmed by the support from staff and locals so far and I’m really looking forward to building a Centre we can all be proud of.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Robert Beaumont .