Dog grooming salon allowed to stay open after planning mishap
'The applicant has been using the building for this purpose for several months and was unaware of the need to apply for planning permission as the business is located within an existing outbuilding on the property'
A Welsh dog grooming salon has been told it can stay open despite not having planning permission because the owner said he didn't realise he needed it.
Andrew Bird submitted a retrospective application to Pembrokeshire council, via Matthew Hitches Architectural Services, seeking approval for the change of use of a domestic outbuilding in Stepaside, near Amroth, into a dog-grooming salon along with proposed alterations to access. The conversion was completed last October. Amroth Community Council expressed no objections to the proposal aside from concerns about its retrospective nature.
They have welcomed the proposed improvements to access having previously voiced concerns about road safety in the immediate vicinity. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here.
A supporting statement accompanying the application for the part-time business stated: "The applicant has been using the building for this purpose for several months and was unaware of the need to apply for planning permission as the business is located within an existing outbuilding on the property."
It further added: "The salon is currently used on a part-time basis three days per week. The salon has just one appointment in the morning and one in the afternoon.
"So the maximum number of visitors to the property would be six per week. The applicant has no intention of expanding the business any further. The vast majority of the applicant's current clients live within Stepaside and Pleasant Valley and most will journey to the salon on foot.
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"Although the business is situated within the countryside it is considered essential that this business be situated in this location as it offers a valuable service to the local community.
"If the business were to be located elsewhere this would mean local residents would need to travel by car to use such services. The number of customers arriving by car is minimal and there is considerable space for parking and turning within the property if needed. It is therefore considered there will be no detrimental effect on highway safety."
An officer report recommending approval said: "Whilst the proposal would not derive inputs from the land and would not be an enterprise for which a countryside location is essential.
"It is considered that due to the re-use of an existing building associated noise effects a countryside location away from an urban environment would be acceptable.
"Furthermore it can be considered that an urban/industrial setting is considered to be counterintuitive to the welfare of dogs could result in additional noise.
"As such in this instance in can be considered that a countryside location may be acceptable subject to the acceptability of detailed considerations."
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The application was conditionally approved by county planners.
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