A TREE nursery could be opened in a field close to Grappenhall village.

A planning application has been submitted to develop the land which is bounded by the Bridgewater Canal and Church Lane and sits in the green belt and conservation area.

Developers want to grow sapling trees in an area of around 2.6 acres, while the rest of the four acre plot would be used to sell them.

Planning documents submitted to Warrington Borough Council said: “This will be a commercial operation and the trees are to be sold from the site.

“However, sales will be to the general public and not to commercial trade clients.

“This will be a small-scale sustainable use of the site which will enhance the local economy.”

Warrington Guardian:

The view from the canal

As well as the planting, a small office, polytunnel and containers will be added to the land.

The documents added: “All deliveries and collections will be by a 4x4 vehicle with a trailer, there will be no HGV type wagons visiting the site.

“It must be stressed that the business will be modest in its scale use and not a large scale commercialisation of the area.”

The nursery would be open seven days a week, with opening hours of 9.30am until 4.30pm.

The development would required the removal of part of the existing hedgerow on Church Lane but developers say they will replace it on a like-for-like basis.

The documents added: “We believe this proposal is a natural enhancement of the conservation area and will preserve the economic vitality of the area.

“The proposal seeks to make use of an under-utilised area with a suitably ecologically and sustainable use while providing a small-scale business which will create employment generation for the area.”

  •  For more information, visit the council's website via warrington.gov.uk.