BREXIT, changes to policy in China, the pandemic and even the Suez blockage have all effected the way some UK companies do business, according to a new planning application.

The owners of Tong Garden Centre plan to build a warehouse extension that will allow them to store more stock on the site.

A planning application for the planned 876 square metre expansion, to be built on a storage yard to the rear of the site, may appear on the surface to be a fairly mundane proposal.

But the plans submitted to Bradford Council highlight the pressures facing businesses such as garden centres, as well as changes to the public’s buying habits.

Tong Garden Centre is one of the District’s most successful businesses, and has undergone numerous expansions in recent years.

The application says more storage space is needed at the site for the business to remain successful.

Company behind Tong Garden Centre given permission for new centre in South Leeds

It says: “The success of any retail business is about having the right stock at the right time and at the right price and external, international issues are influencing how UK retailers need to operate.

“Changes to China’s policy on accepting imports has dramatically changed the global shipping market.

“Whereas formerly economies of scale were gained by containers of products being shipped from China to Western markets and also returned full, this has changed and as a result shipping costs have significantly increased.

“In the short to medium term the Suez Canal blockage, Brexit and changes including furlough have all impacted on the flow of imports into the UK.

“As a result the majority of garden centre businesses are experiencing inflated costs for certain products, in particular garden furniture and barbecues.

“The recent pandemic lockdowns and the requirement for home working have also introduced more people to gardening and made the home and garden a more significant part of people’s lives.

“In combination these factors are leading to garden centre operators changing how they function. To maintain the viability of the business and safeguard jobs they need to have stock readily available to meet customer demand.

“Recent circumstances have highlighted the need to have higher levels of stock holding on site and also, given increased shipping costs, the need to buy in larger quantities.

“As a result storage requirements for garden centres are increasing significantly.

“The proposed development will assist the continued success of this important local business, securing the existing employment opportunities on this site as well as providing an additional four jobs for people in the local area.”

A decision on the application is expected in Late August.