Washington's Elm Tree Farm Garden Nursery and Tea Room to expand after winning planning permission

In 2018, Elm Tree Farm Garden Nursery and Tea Room lodged a bid to revamp its premises.

The business in Washington Road, Usworth, hoped to extend its existing space and relocate an outdoor seating area.

Other plans included making room for an extra 35 spaces at the site and a new polytunnel.

Plans were formally accepted by Sunderland City Council’s planning department earlier this year.

Following consultation and a time extension, the plans were finally given the go-ahead on Friday, December 13.

The application includes measures to avoid potential damage to Great Crested Newts, which are known to live in the nearby Severn Houses Local Wildlife Site.

The scheme has also proposed ‘a house sparrow terrace nest box’ on the site.

Under planning conditions, works must start within the next three years.