Edwin Tucker & Sons plan new agricultural store in Ashburton

Edwin Tucker & Sons reopened its country store on Chuley Road in the town in February and it is now planning a new store on the outskirts of the town.

Having operated in Ashburton since the 1800s, the original store closed in 2018. In February the company started trading from the former Seed Store on Chuley Road once again and now has planning permission for a larger, purpose-built store at Peartree Cross next to the A38.

The masterplan for the new store (Image: Edwin Tucker & Sons)

Director, Hamish Cherrett, said: “It was a really tough decision for Tuckers when the Ashburton store closed and, while we’ve not had a physical presence in the town these last few years, we have continued to serve many Dartmoor and South Hams customers from our branch in Crediton.

"Thankfully we are now able to serve many more of our Ashburton, Dartmoor and South Hams customers as well as attract new business and offer more employment opportunities.

“We also have approved planning permission for a much larger and purpose-built country store on a piece of land just outside the town.

"Our original plan was to move to the new site in 2018 but many issues prevented this from happening and unfortunately the old store had to close to enable a residential development in the town.

"We still have ambitions to build at this new location and have already done a lot of work to construct the access road and improve drainage on the site.

Jonathan Webber (left) with Hamish Cherrett (right) (Image: Edwin Tocker & Sons)

"In October this year we re-submitted a new planning application to Dartmoor National Park Authority which is for an amendment to our building design and includes separate premises that will be occupied by a local agricultural machinery business as well as a up to 60 electric vehicle fast charging terminals.

"This development will create a dozens of new jobs and provide improved services for our farming and rural customers as well as benefit other local businesses.”

The business is still independent and is now owned by the Webber family from Crediton - with four generations having worked for the business since the 1920s.

Hamish's son-in-law, Jonathan Webber, is the third generation of his family to work for Tuckers.

He said: "The company was established in South Devon in 1831 and over the following 191 years has remained fiercely independent and progressive, evolving as business demands changed and new technologies evolved farming practices.

"We have an immense historical link with Ashburton and the region with records showing that we have served many of the multi-generational farming families that are still around today.

The Brunel order dated 1859 (Image: Edwin Tucker & Sons)

"We even have a record of a seed order from a certain Mr I K Brunel from 1859, the year he oversaw the construction the Great Western Railway through Devon and across the River Tamar!”

While Tuckers originally established itself as a seed and agricultural merchant, its country stores now provide a much wider range of products for smallholders, pet owners, gardeners, and equestrian customers as well as farming and land-based businesses.

The planning application is listed on the Dartmoor National Park planning portal under reference number 0396/22 and comments can be given until January 19, 2023.