Cattery in a garage at 13 Orkney Place, Immingham

The site and history

The site is a detached residential property with a detached garage, surrounded by homes and adjoining green space; no relevant planning history was identified.

“SITE 13 Orkney Place is a detached residential property with a detached garage along the northern side boundary of the property, which is located to the east side of the road. The area surrounding the property is residential in nature, with a combination of detached and semi-detached properties present within the immediate vicinity. Green space adjoins the rear boundary of the site. RELEVANT PLANNING HISTORY None relevant.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval for a limited period because the proposal was not expected to harm area character, residential amenity, highways or parking.

“Flood Risk and Drainage The application site is located within flood zone 3, with the Environment Agency providing no comments in respect of the application. No increase in floorspace is proposed through the application, therefore the Drainage Officer has no comments to raise on this basis. North East Lindsey Drainage Board provide no objections in respect of the scheme. The proposal is considered to accord with Policies 33 and 34 of the NELLP 2018. 6.”

“The application is therefore recommended for approval on a limited period basis in accordance with Policies 5, 22, 33, 34 and 41 of the North East Lincolnshire Local Plan 2013-2032 (Adopted 2018) subject to conditions. RECOMMENDATION Approved Limited Period (1) Condition The development hereby permitted shall begin within three years of the date of this permission. Reason To comply with S.91 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.”

Officer report

Managing effects on neighbours

Noise, odour and disturbance would be managed through the submitted assessments, appointment-only access, controlled hours and a two-year temporary permission.

“Neighbouring Amenity Impacts The host property adjoins 12 and 14 Orkney Place to the sides, 5 and 6 Orkney Place to the front and 40 Jersey Place and green space at the rear. The garage subject to the proposal is sited along the northern boundary of the application site and forms part of the side boundary shared with 12 Orkney Place.”

“Both of these conditions are considered to mitigate impact to the residential amenity of neighbours on the basis of noise, odour and disturbance. Moreover it is considered that a temporary permission can be imposed to enable an assessment of the use and that the mitigation measures are effective. A two year period is recommended.”

Officer report

Consultation and objections

Environmental Health had no objection subject to conditions, while the town council and neighbours raised concerns about noise, odour, traffic, parking and disturbance.

“Environmental Health - No objections, conditions requested for hours of operation and the adherence to the Noise Management Plan provided. Environment Agency - No comments. Ecology - Proposal is considered to meet the de-minimus exemption and is therefore considered to be exempt from the mandatory biodiversity net gain condition. No known ecological issues.”

“Objections received from 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 12, 15 Orkney Place, Immingham broadly on the grounds of: -Disturbance to residential amenity -Garage to be converted forming boundary between application site and 12 Orkney Place with the business to host up to 14 cats at any one time -Justification within noise assessment provided being linked to a cattery in Leeds -The cleaning regime within the odour control document provided is considered to be out of scale within a residential…”

Officer report

Who spoke

An objector requested a site visit and opposed the commercial use, while the applicant described the established family business and offered conditions limiting cats and access.

What members discussed

Members considered parking, the booking system, enforcement and the reassurance provided by the two-year limit; they found no reason to object.

“Councillor Hudson said that when he first looked at the application, he was concerned about parking, but after hearing that the property had a driveway where two cars could park and that there would be a booking system for clients, he didn’t see parking being a problem.”

“Councillor Lindley said that it was commendable of the applicant to go down the formal route with submitting a planning application. He said that he couldn’t see a reason to object to the application. Councillor Lindley said that the limited period approval should give residents reassurance that if there were issues, a further application would have to be submitted in two years’ time and that would be something for the Planning Committee to consider at that time.”

Minutes

The vote and decision

Members proposed and seconded approval, then unanimously approved the application with conditions for a limited period.

“RESOLVED – That the application be approved with conditions for a limited period.”

“(Note - the committee voted unanimously for the application to be approved with conditions for a limited period.)”

Minutes

The main conditions

The permission limited the cattery to 24 months, required appointment-only access from 8am to 6pm and required compliance with noise and odour plans.

“(5) Condition Drop offs and pick ups and public access associated with the cattery use hereby approved shall be undertaken on an appointment only basis between the hours of 8am to 6pm on any day in accordance with the covering statement received 18th March 2026. Reason To protect residential amenity in accordance with Policy 5 of the North East Lincolnshire Local Plan 2013-2032 (adopted 2018).”

Officer report