A TOWN garden centre could provide new play facilities for children and families if planning permission is granted.
Otley Garden Centre, formerly Stephen H Smiths, say they need to attract younger customers after a drop-off in older people spending money on their gardens.
A report prepared for Yorkshire Garden Centres, which owns the site, said: "Research suggests that after the age of 70 customers are tending to spend less on garden retail.
"Garden centres are also competing with leisure, travel, sport and hospitality attractions for the ‘grey pound.’ Garden centres therefore need to attract a younger customer base in order to secure the future."
Otley Garden Centre is seeking permission to demolish a warehouse building to make way for in indoor play centre and cafe.
An outdoor activity space would also be created, along with more parking space, if the scheme is allowed by Leeds City Council.
The planning report by Yorkshire Garden Centres said more play facilities were needed in the town.
It said: “The Otley Garden Centre is a well-established business within the local area and is a cornerstone of the local community.
“Currently, there is only one indoor play facility within the settlement of Otley, called Buttercups.
“The addition of a further indoor play facility would be a valuable addition to the surrounding area.”
The company said nearby land had already been allocated for 550 new homes.
The report added: "The aim of the proposal is to re-establish the garden centre’s position within the Yorkshire garden centre market in order to retain existing customers, encourage old customers to return and cater for emerging customer demands; by updating the existing facilities.
"Over recent years indoor play areas have started to become an integral part of a modern garden centre’s offer, attracting the ever-growing young family market, to offset changes to the demographic profile of the typical older garden centre customer."
Expansion plans for the Pool Road garden centre could benefit other business and create jobs.
The report said: “Otley Garden Centre is a key local employer in the area, and this is expected to rise as a result of the proposed expansion proposal.”
The company said that gardening is traditionally a seasonal activity and the new facility would help "weatherproof" their business and attract people to it all year round.
The report added: "It is well known that the garden centre business is seasonal with peak business months over the summer.
"Therefore, one of the main drivers behind the proposals is the need to try to ‘weatherproof’ the business.
"Horticultural businesses are traditionally ‘fair weather’ and trade is very dependent upon good weather. This results in a difficult trading environment."
The scheme also looks to extend the existing car park and provide additional car parking spaces to the west.
The proposals can be summarised as follows:
• Demolition of an existing warehouse
• Demolition of a small brick-built lean-to garden information room
• A new building comprising an indoor play facility: 580 sqm and warehouse: 410 sqm
• A new outdoor play and seating area
• New landscaping
• Reconfigured Car Park and new turning area for delivery vehicles.
The full planning application can be viewed on the Leeds Planning Portal ref: 24/04930/FU
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