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New Glasshouse to add retail space at Rutland Water Garden Nursery

CambridgeHOK is delighted be helping a successful family garden nursery business to continue growing its customer offering with the addition of a new glasshouse on a key area of the site.

Rutland Water Garden Nursery, which stands beside the beautiful scenery of Rutland Water, grows and sells around 250,000 high-quality plants a year.

Established more than 30 years, it has evolved in more recent times to become a destination of true inspiration for plants, architectural shrubs and trees, houseplants, cacti, outdoor furniture and interiors.

In 2020 it became the home to ‘Hoggy’s Grill’ - a unique Cookery School and Grill Shop run by former cricketer Matthew Hoggard, teaching people grilling skills in a stunning setting overlooking Rutland Water.

It was when looking to add a new retail space next to the cookery school that the expertise of CambridgeHOK was called upon.

“Rutland Water Garden Nursery wanted a new glasshouse that would fit next to the cookery school, to be a desired retail outlet for seasonal plants,” said Alan Frampton, sales manager at CambridgeHOK.

“Whilst of course the glasshouse needs to be functional, it was also important to have an aesthetically appealing design, to fit in with the surrounding buildings and given the location next to the beautiful Rutland Water and cookery school.

“We designed a portal frame glasshouse with the same roof angle as the other surrounding buildings that is powder coated in the same green colour, to ensure it fits seamlessly into its environment.

“The glasshouse is being divided into two sections for cacti and seasonal plans, and has screening to shade visitors and plants in the summer, and to reduce heat loss in the winter.

“It will truly be an exceptional customer experience when completed, and we are delighted to be playing our part with this bespoke glasshouse to meet the garden nursery’s expectations.”

Three Month build project

Building of the glasshouse started in early January with completion of the project expected by the middle of March, ready for a grand opening.

CambridgeHOK are contracted by Best Little Projects, lead constructor on developments at Rutland Water Garden Nursery, which have been on site for about a year adding new facilities.

Project Manager Mike Hartley said: “We’ve worked very closely with CambridgeHOK to plan the build of the glasshouse on site as it is effectively the final piece in the jigsaw of around 12 months of building new facilities on site.

“We’ve worked with them to plan laying the foundations ready for the glasshouse to be constructed, and then once that is complete we are then back to lay the floor, before CambridgeHOK finishes the glasshouse for the client.

“As with any construction project involving a number of parties, there are always challenges to be overcome and we’ve been able to do this thanks to good communication and planning with the CambridgeHOK team.”

Having completed the steel portal frame, glazing installation is progressing before the concrete floor is laid. The CambridgeHOK team will then complete the project with roof screening, guttering and controls installations.

Jason Tether, Operations and Project Manager for CambridgeHOK, said: “We’re delighted to be helping another successful, family business expand its operations by providing new growing space in this dedicated glasshouse.

“This is a great example of how, because of our years of expertise and knowledge, we can quickly add glasshouse space to existing nurseries and garden centres, but also do so to meet exacting customer requirements over performance and aesthetics.

“We are able to manage and complete projects such as this without disrupting the daily activities of our clients, meaning they can remain open to customers, but also crucially we can complete projects of this size in a quick turnaround, meaning nurseries and garden centres can add to their facilities between key growing periods.”

Rutland Water Garden Nursery has been in business for over thirty years, growing and nurturing plants for the gardens of Rutland and beyond.

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