MAJOR plans to bulldoze a garden centre and replace it with a Travis Perkins store and Greggs bakery look set to get the go ahead.

A bid has been submitted to demolish Basildon Garden and Mower Centre in Nevendon Road to make way for the builders’ merchant and food giant.

Basildon Council’s planning committee will meet to discuss the plans next week, with councillors recommended to approve the scheme.

The site, just off East Mayne, is currently operating as a garden centre with café.

The proposals would see the current buildings bulldozed and replaced by a Travis Perkins builders merchant branch, with parking, material storage and a tool hire compound.

Echo: The site - Basildon Garden and Mower CentreThe site - Basildon Garden and Mower Centre

A small detached Greggs food outlet will serve both customers to the builders merchant and passers-by, similar to the existing garden centre café.

“It’s another example of Basildon being open for business,” councillor Anthony Hedley, responsible for economic growth and business engagement, said.

“If the plans were to make it through the planning, which I can’t see why there would be an issue as it is a brown field site, the businesses will help bring in footfall for the other businesses on those trading estates.”

He added: “These are the kind of big-name business we want to be attracting to the town to aid economic growth."

Echo: Proposal mapProposal map

The businesses will be served by HGV loading and unloading bays, six customer parking bays, a customer loading area, five staff parking bays and cycle storage for eight bikes.

The proposal also includes the widening of Nevendon Road at its junction with Courtauld Road to facilitate HGV movements.

“The proposal will create employment opportunities both during and after construction and provide a valuable service to the local construction industry in a suitable location,” planning documents submitted by Travis Perkins stated.

“The scheme has been well designed to make best use of the site whilst sitting comfortably with its immediate neighbours.”

Councillors are set to ask Travis Perkins to cough up more than £10,000 to improve sustainable transport in the area as part of the deal.

A decision on the plans will be issued on Wednesday.