The Garden & Leisure Group, formed in 1997, is currently in the final stages of discussion with Waitrose over the redevelopment of Percy Thrower’s store in Shrewsbury.

John Moseley, Garden & Leisure’s Marketing Director, said: “The 6,000sqm development is still subject to planning permission from Shropshire County Council, but we are hopeful that it will be favourably received.

“Essentially there will be two distinct stores sharing the same location. The demographics of the two businesses match very closely and there is a genuine synergy between the two trading concepts which will provide an absolutely unique shopping destination.

“Percy Thrower was probably the most famous name in traditional gardening. During his lifetime he was often called ‘The Nation’s Head Gardener’, and always dreamt of a new type of plant-led Garden Centre. This development looks set to turn his dream into a reality.

“The Garden & Leisure Group is delighted that this development will provide the opportunity to offer the best in quality food retailing in partnership with the most famous and well-respected name in traditional, plant-led Garden Centres.”