A home in the centre of Crowland where dog breeding has been taking place has been denied retrospective planning permission to continue operating.
Last week’s meeting of South Holland District Council’s Planning Committee heard that the home on North Street had been granted a licence for 20 bitches in 2020, but had never been given the required change of use planning permission.
It had applied to have up to 30 dogs and currently has French bulldogs.
Ward councillor Jim Astill said in a joint statement with Angela Harrison: “We find it surprising one part of the council issued a licence while not getting planning permission.
“There appears to be no formal complaints been made about the site but 30 dogs in an enclosed area will have an impact on residents.
“Perhaps in the past the number of dogs has been lower.
“If this were a new application for breeding in a residential area I don’t believe the committee would look very favourably at it.”
The meeting was told that a visit by officers had counted 21 dogs at the property.
“Quite clearly the number of dogs on site are in breach of their licence,” said Coun Paul Redgate, who proposed the refusal contrary to planning officers’ recommendations. “Many in rural areas of the district have numerous complaints about these facilities with regards to noise and everything else, yet we seem to be normalising this in the middle of one of our towns.
“Our own environmental officers have suggested this is not a suitable location.”
Planning chairman Coun James Avery described the application as ‘very strange’ before it was unanimously refused.
