OWNERS of a garden centre say they are expecting to create up to 300 new jobs after plans to expand their business were approved.

Phillippa Stubbs, of British Garden Centres, brought about gasps from members at the latest meeting of County Durham Council’s County Planning Committee today as she explained the company’s plan to expand East Durham Garden Centre, in Easington, Peterlee.

Along with her husband Charles and brother-in-law Robert Stubbs, she said the trio took over the centre last year and had “exciting plans” for the business, just off South Hetton Road.

Councillors werre told the new facilities will include an enlarged and resurfaced 448 space car park, expansion of internal and external retail areas, a playbarn, restaurant, orangery and replacement managers accommodation.

An enlarged sustainable drainage pond designed to accommodate the run-off from the enlarged and resurfaced car park will also be made.

She said: “We are a family owned and run company and have traded for the last 27 years.

“In the last 15 years we have built it up so we now own ten garden centres in the North and North-East and all three of us take a very active role in them.”

Mrs Stubbs added: “The scope of potential we are able to bring to this area with a flagship destination garden centre.”

Mrs Stubbs said the centre would provide around 250 full-time and 50 part-time jobs across a range of skills from catering to horticulture.

The business also intends to “work closely with apprenticeship providers to ensure we are bringing in talent” and the surrounding community.

Mrs Stubbs added: “We believe we can make this site an £8 million centre which would bring jobs and economy to the local area.”

Councillors unanimously backed the proposals with some asking whether the job figures were correct as they could not believe that many could be created from one business, which Mrs Stubbs confirmed was the right number.

Councillor Fraser Tinsley said he thought the application was “to be welcomed” but thought the prediction on the amount of jobs was “bullish” and “over-egged”.

Councillor Alan Bell called the proposals “absolutely brilliant” while councillor John Clare added: “I’m delighted to see this business wanting to grow and expand - this application ticks every single box.”