After a planning application for a new farm shop and garden centre had been controversially denied, the site of the former Rock Farm Nursery in Chudleigh has now been sold. With businesses being rocked as the Covid-19 virus develops, the sale shows the appetite for commercial property continues.
Plans revealed
With terms agreed on a subject to planning basis with Dainton Self Storage impresario, Paul Maddicott, the sale of the Rock Farm Nursery looked set to be a done deal back in early 2019.
The proposed plans revealed how the derelict site in Chudleigh would be transformed into a brand-new farm shop and garden centre. Creating 100 jobs, the development would also include a café, woodland playpark, and on-site car parking.
Spending £45,000 in fees over the last 18 months, Mr. Maddicott had the overwhelming support of the local community and the town council, all of whom were in favour of the project. However, Teignbridge County Council rejected the scheme as unviable in January this year, leaving Mr. Maddicott with no option but to walk away.
New sale agreed
With the sale of the site effectively null and void, the current owners, still keen to sell, approached Charles Darrow to act on their behalf. Despite the current circumstances, we moved swiftly to take advantage of the site being in the public eye, leading to plenty of interested parties.
Amid the attention, the development site just off the A38, caught the eye of one business professional in particular. With a fast sale agreed, the site is now under new ownership, but we’ll have to wait for the confidential plans to be released later in the year to find out what’s in store.
Jon Clyne, Director at Charles Darrow commented:” Whilst there was a huge amount of disappointed from the local community when the original plans fell through, despite having almost unanimous support for what would have been a fantastic re-development of a discarded site, a new buyer was quickly found and we are hopeful, their plans will also be of interest to the local community”.
Remote business as usual
Coronavirus has caused turmoil and confusion around the world, disrupting almost every sector. But in the middle of it all, we’re finding a level of resilience in the commercial property marketplace and Charles Darrow is seeing continued activity.
While our physical offices remain closed for the foreseeable future, we’re still very much open for business. Despite the challenges, together we’re working remotely with, and for, our clients on a daily basis and are pleased to see ongoing negotiations and new transactions continue.