A CALL to allow a Pembrokeshire village dog grooming salon to keep running as the applicant didn’t realise he needed planning permission, has been backed by county planners.
Andrew Bird, in an application to Pembrokeshire County Council through agent Matthew Hitches Architectural Services, sought permission for a retrospective change of use of a domestic outbuilding at Roslyn Hill, Stepaside, to a dog-grooming salon, along with access alterations.
The change of use was completed last October.
Amroth Community Council has raised no objection to the scheme, other than concerns about its retrospective nature, and has welcomed the access improvements proposed, having previously raised concerns about road safety in the immediate area.
A supporting statement accompanying the application for the part-time business said: 2The 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 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. 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.”
The application was conditionally approved by county planners.
