Agricultural field could be transformed into secure exercise area for dogs

Plans for a secure, bookable dog exercise area near Sutton-in-Craven have been submitted to North Yorkshire Council, with fencing, parking and a dog wash.

The location of the proposed dog exercise field near Sutton-in-Craven. <i>(Image: Google.)</i>

(Image: Google.)

An agricultural field near Sutton-in-Craven could be turned into a secure dog exercise area in response to growing demand for facilities where pets can safely run off the lead.

Plans have been submitted to North Yorkshire Council to change the use of around 1.2 hectares of land near Clough Head Barn, off West Lane.

The proposed facility would provide a private, enclosed area which could be booked by dog owners for either 30 minutes or an hour.

Planning documents say secure dog exercise facilities are becoming increasingly popular, particularly among owners of young or nervous dogs which cannot safely be let off the lead in public or do not respond well to other dogs or people.

They can also provide somewhere for owners to carry out one-to-one training without interruption.

If approved, the field would be available for pre-booked sessions seven days a week throughout the year, between 6am and 8pm.

Access would be controlled through a gated entrance with a digital keypad, with codes issued only to customers who had registered and made a booking.

The majority of the site would remain grassland, but 1.8-metre-high post and wire fencing would be installed to create the secure exercise area.

Two parking spaces would also be provided, allowing owners to unload their dogs within a secure location.

A small ancillary building containing storage, a dog wash and toilet would be built close to the entrance, with a package sewage treatment plant serving the facilities.

The proposals also include retaining existing hedges and planting 24 native trees.

The site is in open countryside around 200 metres west of the buildings at Clough Head Farm.

Documents submitted with the application acknowledge that most, if not all, customers would travel to the site by car.

However, the applicants estimate there would typically be around ten to 12 half-hour booking slots each day, with sessions staggered to prevent customers overlapping.

They argue this would mean no more than around four vehicle movements an hour at the busiest times.

The planning statement also addresses the potential for noise, saying the private booking system would limit the number of dogs using the field at any one time.

It adds that the facility would be significantly different from kennels, where larger numbers of dogs can remain for prolonged periods, while the site's remote location would reduce the potential impact on neighbouring properties.

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The applicants say the scheme would also create a new small-scale rural business and allow agricultural land to be used in a different way while retaining its predominantly open, grassland appearance.

A biodiversity assessment submitted with the plans predicts the development would achieve a 10.52 per cent biodiversity net gain, including through the proposed tree planting.

North Yorkshire Council will consider the application.