THE transformation of neglected grounds into the country's fifth Royal Horticultural Society garden have been given the green light.

Planning permission has been given for the £30 million development of the grounds of Worsley New Hall near Walkden, with celebrity gardener and former Bolton School girl Carol Klein appointed the ambassador for the garden.

The 154-acre RHS Garden Bridgewater is planned to open in 2019 as part of the RHS wider 10-year £160 million investment programme to achieve its vision to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.

A spokesperson for the Royal Horticultural Society, RHS said: "We are delighted that Salford City Council has granted planning permission in principle for RHS Garden Bridgewater. #

"This means that this exciting and inspirational project, which will provide huge benefit to the local area, has passed another key stage.

"The proposals include designs for a new Welcome Building at the 154-acre site, from architects Hodder+Partners, who were invited to design a world-class visitor centre which will provide a gateway to the gardens, as well as designs for the reuse of existing buildings for catering, garden centre and retail purposes. Other material featured in the planning submission includes garden designs by landscape architect Tom Stuart-Smith, who produced the masterplan for the site.

"The application will now be referred to the Secretary of State due to the green belt status of the site. There are still many stages involved in creating this world-class garden but we look forward to updating everyone as our plans progress."

The 156 acre site forms part of the 3rd Duke of Bridgewater’s estate and adjoins the Bridgewater Canal.

The ambitious landscape and horticultural aspirations for RHS Garden Bridgewater will see a major new destination garden created in the midst of the Northern Powerhouse and is estimated to welcome one million visitors a year within a decade of opening its doors.

The project is a collaboration between Peel Land and Property, Salford City Council and the RHS.

RHS Garden Bridgewater will join the RHS’ current portfolio of gardens at Wisley in Surrey, Rosemoor in Devon, Hyde Hall in Essex and Harlow Carr in Yorkshire.