End of an era as Leighton Buzzard Garden Centre confirms closing date of March 2027
Leighton Buzzard Garden Centre is to finally close its doors in March following a long-running campaign to keep the business open and save jobs.
It also signals the end of an era – ending more than 40 years’ trading at the garden site in Hockliffe Road, which is to make way for a housing development.
Developers Thrive Homes says the development of 41 houses will support the local economy, create employment and provide affordable housing.
The garden centre owners, who have fought hard to keep it going, say they are sorry to see it close but are now resigned to having to call it a day, with the garden centre cafe set to close as early as September 1.
Owner Iris Lee-Lo said: “It’s heartbreaking. We have heard from Thrive Homes, which means the business is closing early next year, in March. But we are grateful to the councils, councillors customers and the Leighton Buzzard Observer for all the support we’ve been given to help our campaign to keep the garden centre and other businesses on the site going.
“From now we won’t be getting any new stock in but will be selling off existing stock at a reduction in the run-up to the closure.
“The garden centre cafe is to close sooner on September 1, with the loss of up to seven members of staff.
“We simply can’t afford to keep it going with energy costs and wages. It’s such a shame for both us and the customers.
"And it also means we will be losing three garden centre staff while keeping on three staff to help the family, which will be running the business while it remains open.”
Iris and the family took over the business six years ago and say they will miss serving the ‘lovely community’ of Leighton Buzzard.
The business had always remained optimistic as the planning application for housing had previously been denied twice.
“It’s a sign of the times,” she added. “The government says we need more housing and we all have to move with the times, but developers seem to forget these houses need infrastructure.
“It will be a sad day but there’s nothing we can do, but I’m now looking forward to retiring.”
Some businesses based at the centre have already closed, including Jacey Landscaping and Garden Services, which has already relocated to a unit close by.
Regular customers sorry to see the business close remain concerned about a lack of amenities in the town after the garden ceases trading, with people having to travel outside the area – taking money away from the local economy, and adding to pollution due to increased traffic.
Director of development at Thrive Homes, Chantelle Barker, said: “At Thrive Homes, our mission is to increase the availability of high quality, affordable housing in some of the UK’s most expensive areas.
Leighton Buzzard Garden Centre first opened in 1995, a year after two brothers transformed a derelict site into a thriving community-based multi-use retail facility.