Thanet Earth has started construction on its latest glasshouse, expected to cost £20m.
The glasshouse will be the seventh operated by Thanet Earth and will add 6.5 hectares of production space dedicated to tomato cultivation, taking the company’s total growing area to 51.5ha.
Thanet Earth owns the UK’s largest glasshouse complex, based in Birchington, Kent, and currently grows 400 million tomatoes, 33 million cucumbers and 24 million peppers a year.
The glasshouse is expected to grow around 150 million additional tomatoes.
It is the final glasshouse construction approved under the site’s original planning permissions, with completion targeted for November 2025.
“The development of our seventh glasshouse is a significant milestone for Thanet Earth and a clear demonstration of our continued investment in UK food production,” said Thanet Earth MD Chris Butler. “Strengthening our capacity to grow more fresh produce here in Britain is vital for long-term food security, reducing our dependence on imports, and meeting consumer demand sustainably.”
Long-standing partner of Thanet Earth, Bom, has been appointed as principal contractor. It has previously constructed three of the six existing glasshouses at the Birchington site.
Bom is a Dutch horticultural specialist and brings extensive experience from other large-scale UK projects, including a 20-hectare glasshouse site.
Groundwork began in March and the glasshouse framework is now being erected.
The project remains on schedule with a target to have it “planting ready” by the end of November.
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