Dog walking area at Former Waterworks Garshake Road, Dumbarton

“Change of use of land from the former water authority facility to form a dog walking area (sui generis), • Erection of temporary portable building for staff and security provision on an existing area of hardstanding, • Erection of new fencing; and • Form 3no. parking spaces on an existing area of hardstanding.”

“In terms of the detail of the proposal, the dog walking area will be split into two parts and fenced off. The access that runs through the middle of the site will be retained to maintain the existing access to the land and buildings to the north. A portable building for staff welfare and security of the site measuring approximately 7.5m length x 3 metres wide and 2.7m in height, with a footprint of approximately 22sqm, together with 3 no.”

“The application site comprises the southern section of a former Scottish Water facility located immediately to the north of Garshake Road where the road terminates. The site is an irregular triangular area of land extending to an area of approximately 0.8 hectares.”

“The site is bounded to the west by a private road accessing towards Maryland Farm, and this road forms part of Core Path 56 (Lang Craig's Wood / Maryland Farm route). Maryland Farm itself, and associated buildings are situated approximately 650 metres away from the site. A further private road bounds the site to the east and this leads to Garshake Farm situated approximately 450 metres from the site.”

“Turning to the acceptability of the proposal with reference to the Green Belt location, Policy 8 of NPF4, and Policy GB1 of both the adopted Local Plan and proposed Local Development Plan 2 advise that development in the Green Belt will only be supported in limited circumstances. The specified circumstances include proposals for outdoor recreational uses in which the dog owners would use the land for dog exercising within a secure location.”

“It is suggested that whilst not a use specifically directed to this location by the development plan and not one specifically supported by Policy 8 of NPF4, and Policy GB1 of both the adopted Local Plan and proposed Local Development Plan 2, this is a use where a location in the Green Belt would be appropriate and the objectives of the Green Belt would not be undermined nor set an unacceptable precedent for the use of Green Belt land.”

“West Dunbartonshire Council Biodiversity Officer No objections subject to conditions requiring a landscaping plan, planting and biodiversity enhancements as recommended in the submitted Preliminary Ecological Appraisal.”

“West Dunbartonshire Council Environmental Health Service No objections subject to conditions on hours of operation, the number of dogs on site at any given time and site contamination.”

“Site Layout, Design, and Safety • The proposal fails to outline plans to make safe, remove, or renovate the existing disused, unsafe buildings on the wider site. • No details are provided on how the dog walking area will be separated from the rest of the site. • No boundary treatments are proposed along the red boundary lines of the site.”

“Impact on Local Amenity and Environment • Persistent dog barking from dawn until dusk is expected to negatively affect the peace and wellbeing of nearby residents, specifically those at Baxter View Care Home. • Traffic and activity from the development will worsen noise pollution and negatively impact nearby homes.”

“GRANT full planning permission subject to the following conditions:”

“Prior to the commencement of development on site, a Biodiversity Enhancement Plan setting out how the proposal enhances biodiversity beyond the current baseline, together with the implementation on site, shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Planning Authority. All measures shall then be implemented as approved. Thereafter, unless otherwise agreed in writing with the Planning Authority, the development shall be completed in accordance with the approved plan.”