PLANS have been submitted to Wirral Council for the redevelopment of Carr Farm Garden Centre in Meols.

Proposals for the popular business include a new food hall, cafe and dog grooming parlour as well as the demolition of several buildings on the existing site on Birkenhead Road.

The centre's bosses say the plans are the result of the success of its existing food hall which saw sales rise by 42 per cent between January and December 2020.

If the plans are approved, three new buildings will be built replacing four existing structures with bosses also promising to plant over 100 trees as part of the plans.

In a design and access statement submitted to the council's planning department, Malcolm Scott Consultants Ltd, said: "Carr Farm Garden Centre has been established for nearly 40 years and there are now 100 employed on site.

"It attracts over 200,000 visitors a year with some 40,000 being drawn from beyond 10 miles. During the past 12 months the business, as with most other businesses in the area, has been faced with challenges that have not been experienced before.

"The business responded by setting up a very successful home delivery service as well as ensuring that when the garden centre could open all the necessary Covid-19 precautions were in place."

The success of the centre's food hall department has now prompted the business to put more emphasis on selling locally-produced products as well as producing more products in-house including speciality bread, quiches, cakes, flans, ice cream and Scotch eggs.

There will also be honey sold which will come from the four beehives on the site and apples will be grown in the half acre orchard with further trees planned.

The new food hall, which would cover 250 metres squared, will include a dedicated bakery and delicatessen department.

The existing craft shop building will be dismantled and replaced by a single storey building which will seek to incorporate materials from the demolished building.

The statement said: "Carr Farm Garden Centre have, for several years, allowed dog owners to walk their pets across their fields adjacent to the car park.

"It is proposed to offer a dog grooming parlour in response to frequent requests by dog walkers and other pet owners. This service will form part of a building which replaces existing garden centre and retail buildings."

The proposed development will increase the number of people employed on the site from 100 to 115.