Dog exercise park at 12 Acres Site (land adj Chicken Hatchery), Burgh Castle

“The application proposes to close the existing access and to form a new, 8-metre-wide central access to the site. To facilitate the new entrance, a section of hedging (amounting to approx. 6 plants and 10m distance of hedge) is proposed to be removed. No additional surfacing is proposed with the existing surfacing of compacted hardcore to the parking area to be retained.”

“The application as initially submitted proposed including dog exercise classes and the retention of the storage containers within the application for retrospective planning permission. The application has been amended and now only includes the dog walking element, associated fencing, gating to the paddocks and the proposed access.”

“The application site is located on the eastern side of Mill Road in Burgh Castle and comprises part of an area of equestrian grazing paddocks which have been used as a ‘secure dog walking paddock’ without planning permission, since February 2022. The site is divided up into paddocks from the previous use of the land where horses were kept for leisure purposes; equine use remains the lawful use of the site.”

“Mill Road an adopted road with a 40mph speed limit, it is unlit and does not have pedestrian footways. The road is characterised as a straight stretch of road bordered by hedges with private accesses at intervals. There are no recorded injury accidents or speed/traffic volume counts in the vicinity of the site. Based on Google streetview images, the site’s use has evolved over the last 15 years.”

“Planning permission for the change of use of a larger area of paddock for dog walking and dog exercise/agility classes, and for the retention of the storage containers, was refused in December 2023 (06/22/0338/CU).”

“It is recognised that the previous application was refused in part due to the unsustainable location of the application site and that visitors would be reliant on the private car. The site remains in an unsustainable location but the removal of the dog agility classes from the proposal and the reduction in the operating hours is considered to represent a reduction in intensity of use.”

“Overall, it is considered that the planning considerations are extremely finely balanced but Officers consider that the application can now be recommended for approval as a result of the reduced intensity of the proposed use being outweighed by the benefits of the smaller scale proposal, when compared to the impacts that would be created by the previously refused scheme.”

“Environmental Services have raised no objection to the application, subject to conditions restricting the use of the site in terms of opening hours, number of dogs, no training sessions as well as conditions preventing external lighting and an operational management plan.”

“The County Ecologist raised no objection to the application and confirmed that the Biodiversity Metric Calculation Tool is fit for purpose.”

“Councillor Williamson was concerned in regard to the change-over periods when the possible parking of up to 12 cars at the application site could back up onto Mill Road which was a busy main route into Great Yarmouth and was a rat-run at certain times of the day as this could be very dangerous and cause issues in the area. As the site would be self-operated by its customers it would be hard to monitor…”

“The Senior Planning Officer reported that a log book would be in operation and which could be enforceable by the Planning Enforcement Officer and that there would be a 10 minute gap between appointments and that Highways were satisfied with the provision of 6 spaces.”

“Proposer: Councillor Mogford Seconder: Councillor Boyd.”

“That application number 06/25/0347/CU be APPROVED subject to the conditions as set out in the agenda report.”