Dog exercise unit at Unit 10 Block, 5 Earnhill Road, Greenock

“The application site comprises a vacant single storey warehouse unit located within a larger, single storey building containing a mixture of industrial uses on the north-west side of Earnhill Road, Greenock. The unit measures approximately 24.4m in length by 8.1m in width and contains a main unit with a sink, a toilet and a separate escape corridor. The building contains 11 units fronting Earnhill Road and a similar number of units to the rear.”

“Planning permission is sought to change the use of the unit from Class 6 (storage and distribution) to a dog exercise unit (sui generis). No alterations are proposed to the exterior of the building in conjunction with the proposed change of use.”

“The site adjoins a bus company to the north-east and a mixture of other industrial uses within the building to the north-west and south-west. An area used for off-street parking and deliveries is located in front of the building, with two access points taken from Earnhill Road.”

“The application is accompanied by a supporting statement. The supporting statement proposes to make the unit available for private hire in individual one-hour sessions. Each booking would be for a single dog owner and their dogs, with a maximum of four dogs allowed to use the unit at any one time. Hours of operation are proposed between 09:00 and 21:00.”

“The supporting statement provides justification for this development, noting there is significant demand for a secure, private indoor space where dogs can exercise and train safely. The statement advises there is currently no comparable facility within Inverclyde and that public parks are often unsuitable for off-lead exercise, which can result in conflicts between dogs.”

“Although the proposal represents a departure from the adopted and proposed Inverclyde Local Development Plan as the site is safeguarded for business, industrial and storage/distribution uses (Class 4, 5 & 6) and the proposal does not constitute a business, industrial or storage/distribution use, in assessing the impacts on the safeguarded uses within this industrial estate, at present, units 17 and 19 to the rear of the building are currently vacant and there are further…”

“This type of development is therefore arguably better suited within an industrial estate than within a town or local centre where maximising footfall is essential to maintaining or improving the vibrancy, vitality and viability of the area. The scale of the proposal, making use of a single unit within a building containing around 20 units, the remainder of which are to continue operating as safeguarded uses, allowing the industrial character of the area to be preserved.”

“Condition recommended in respect of waste and recyclable containers. • Advisory notes recommended in respect of Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015); consultation with Public Protection officers on proposed use; and external lighting.”

“Parking should be provided in accordance with the National Roads Development Guidelines. The existing building use is Class 6 – Storage or Distribution and has a GFA has 197sqm which requires 2 parking spaces. • The proposed building use is Sui Generis – Dog Exercise Unit. It is proposed to have one individual client at any given time. This would therefore require a minimum 2 parking spaces to account for any crossover period between single clients.”

“An advertisement was placed in the Greenock Telegraph on 30 th January 2026 due to there being neighbouring land with no premises situated on it.”

“The nature of the proposal did not require a site notice.”

“Decided: that planning permission be granted subject to the following conditions:- 1. that the development hereby permitted must be begun within 3 years from the date of this permission, to comply with Section 58 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 (as amended); and…”