Commercial cattery and dog kennels at Yew Tree Cottage, Yew Tree Drive, Huthwaite

What was proposed

The application proposed commercial cattery and dog-breeding kennels, a reception and storage building, parking, and demolition of the existing cattery and garage.

“The Application This is an application for Construction of a Commercial Cattery, Kennels for Dog Breeding, Reception/Storage Building and Car Parking, Demolition of Cattery and Garage.”

“The proposed Kennel will accommodate 5 breeding kennels for 5 dogs, and the proposed cattery will have 9 pens which can accommodate up to 18 cats.”

Officer report

Earlier use of the site

Officers said animal boarding was established, while the earlier dog-boarding use had ceased before 1979 and the proposal would intensify the use.

“The site has a history of animal boarding usages, dogs and cats, with planning permission for a cattery remaining in operation. The historic permissions indicating that the site previously accommodated dog boarding however the correspondence on the files indicates this part of the business use ceased prior to 1979.”

Officer report

What consultees said

Environmental Protection sought further noise, operational and odour information, Highways maintained a holding objection, and ecology and coal-mining conditions were identified.

“ADC Ecology - From the submitted information I am satisfied that the proposal will not impact on any notable habitat. The buildings on site were assessed as having ‘negligible suitability’ for roosting bats. The ash tree proposed for removal is considered to have ‘low suitability’ for roosting bats and therefore in line with current best practice guidance will need a ‘soft felling’ approach to be secured by a planning condition.”

“ADC Environmental Protection: 06/07/2026: level of supervision is noted; it does not mitigate the fundamental acoustic risks associated with dog breeding activity. Dog breeding introduces a high-risk pattern of impulsive, tonal, and unpredictable barking noise, which is difficult to control through management alone. The applicant has not provided a BS4142:2014+A1:2019 assessment. Recommend refusal due to insufficient information to demonstrate that noise and odour impacts.”

Officer report

What residents said

Residents raised 298 objections concerning noise, disturbance, overdevelopment, commercial character, parking, traffic, odour, animal welfare and environmental effects.

“Amenity • Noise and Disturbance to neighbours • Overdevelopment…”

“Highways • Inadequate parking • Result in on-street parking near a school • Traffic and congestion • Previous refusal on highways grounds • Narrow unadopted road, no vehicle passing. Other • Management of the site and scale of the development • Concerns over legitimacy of history of use on site • Personal matters relating to the applicant • Animal welfare concerns • Concerns dogs may escape • Ethical concerns • Rescue crisis • Environmental impacts…”

Officer report

Who addressed the committee

An objector addressed the committee, and members were offered the opportunity to clarify points raised during the submission.

The committee discussion

Members considered that the proposed parking and access could accommodate the use despite Highways providing no comments, given the limited appointment-only attendance.

“In accordance with the Council’s Policy for dealing with late matters in relation to planning applications, officers proceeded to give a verbal report as to additional comments received in relation to the application as follows:-”

“Nottinghamshire County Council Highways had asked for more information on the use and planning history in order to provide comments. Whilst no highway comments had been provided it was considered that in planning terms the proposed parking and access arrangements were not dissimilar to the existing arrangements which had served the residential and cattery use satisfactorily in the past and with little customer attendance at the site for the dog breeding use, except by…”

Minutes

The vote and decision

The committee moved and seconded conditional consent in line with the officer recommendation, subject to removing condition 11.

“It was moved and seconded that conditional consent be granted, as per the officer’s recommendation contained in the report, subject to the removal of Condition 11, as outlined in the report.”

Minutes