Wildlife veterinary hospital at Land Off Water Lane Long Acre, Kirtling

What was proposed

The application sought a purpose-built wildlife veterinary hospital with residential facilities on land off Water Lane.

“Proposal: To build a purpose-built Wildlife Veterinary Hospital including residential facilities…”

Officer report

The site and its history

The site was outside Kirtling’s development envelope, accessed by a single-track road, and contained containers, a caravan and other items without planning permission.

“There is no planning history at this site.”

“The proposed wildlife hospital would be situated on a parcel of land along Water Lane and would occupy approximately 0.48ha (1.18 hectares) of the wider site. The site is outside of the development envelope of Kirtling and is therefore considered to be in the countryside. The site is accessed by a single-track road. There is a row of trees to the north of the site which provides some screening on approach.”

Officer report

What consultees and residents said

The parish council supported the concept but raised funding and evidence concerns; five neighbours objected, while many residents elsewhere supported the hospital.

“Councillors agreed that, in principle, the Parish Council has no objection to the concept of establishing a wildlife hospital. The Council recognises the potential community and environmental benefits such a facility may bring.”

“For these reasons, while the Parish Council does not object in principle to the idea of a wildlife hospital, it requests that the Planning Authority carefully consider these concerns before determining the application.”

Officer report

Who spoke

An objector opposed the proposal on countryside, policy, amenity, highway and site-selection grounds, while the agent and applicant supported the hospital and its accommodation.

What members debated

Members considered the hospital’s local support and need against its countryside location, agricultural land, scale, noise, visual impact and policy conflicts.

“Cllr Alan Sharp expressed his sympathy for the application but stated that it was in the wrong location. He could not support the building of a facility that was outside the village envelope, on agricultural land, which would create noise…”

“PL140126 Minutes - page 7 disturbance and a detrimental visual impact on the area. Cllr John Trapp agreed, stating that it was large, intrusive building in the wrong location. Cllr Bill Hunt recognised the emotive support for a wildlife hospital, but he could not support an application contrary to the Council’s policies for a building outside the village envelope. Cllr Christine Ambrose Smith agreed.”

Minutes

The vote

The committee voted nine to three in favour of the officer’s recommendation, with no abstentions.

“Cllr John Trapp proposed and Cllr Bill Hunt seconded the recommendation in the report. A vote was taken and with 9 votes in favour, 3 votes against and no abstentions.”

Minutes