AN independent planning inspector visited a dog daycare in St Martin this week as part of a planning appeal after an application to formalise the use of the site was rejected earlier this month.
The Barkley Club has been operating on a field near Rue des Buttes by owner Letitia Lapidus for two years, but has had official permission to use the field turned down.
Earlier this month, the Planning Committee unanimously decided that losing 15 vergées of good agricultural land was “unacceptable” and refused a bid to knock down existing equine facilities and build a dog daycare facility.
Ms Lapidus was previously served a planning enforcement notice, which instructed her to stop using the land by 3 October.
She subsequently appealed this decision with an independent planning inspector visiting the site on Monday with an appeal hearing held yesterday.
The notice explained that there had been a “breach of development controls” on the land – including violating several policies of the Bridging Island Plan 2022 protecting agricultural land, the natural environment and amenities for residents, and preventing extra traffic.
Ms Lapidus said she was “surprised” by the enforcement notice, saying she had “openly communicated with the planning authorities before and during the purchase of the property”.
She further blamed some of the centre’s issues on a lack of accommodation for dog daycares and similar businesses in the Bridging Island Plan which laid out broad plans for future land use in the Island.
She previously said: “The Island Plan currently doesn’t accommodate businesses such as ours, as it’s a relatively new concept for Jersey – despite the recent census indicating that there are approximately 10,000 dogs in the Island.
“In the UK, agricultural fields and barns are frequently used for dog daycares, so we hope to set a positive precedent for existing and future businesses.”
The application for a change of use attracted 90 public comments, with some welcoming the creation of a new business, but others arguing the site was too busy and noisy, particularly as the field is near sheltered housing for residents over 55 at Le Court Clos.
Ms Lapidus is also looking to turn the former Fat Face shop into a “dog-focused” venue. In a live planning application, she suggested adding The Barkley Club branding to the façade, along with the slogans “Where dogs thrive” and “Your dog’s second home”.
Following the hearing, a recommendation will be made on the appeal by the planning inspector with the final decision resting with the Environment Minister.
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