A new secure dog adventure park could soon give owners a dedicated space to exercise their pets off the lead.
Plans have been submitted for a change of use from an agricultural field to a dog agility field on land at Higher Millfield, Mill Road, Bradworthy, Devon.
The applicant is Mrs Karen Whelan, with the planning statement naming the applicants as Mr Allan and Mrs Karen Whelan.
The proposal is for an adventure and agility dog park with a perimeter post-and-wire fence, a wooden shelter, agility equipment, parking and access improvements.
According to the planning statement, access would be taken from an existing track adjoining Mill Road, which would be extended to connect the field to the highway access.
The site would include a four to five-foot perimeter fence, with a lower four-foot fence proposed along the eastern boundary where there is already a dense hedge and tree line.
The statement says: “The perimeter fencing will be erected close up to the existing hedge/tree line and the hedging allowed to grow through to minimise the visual impact.”
A hard-standing parking area would be created for up to two cars, with a turning circle and a lay-by along the access track for two passing or waiting cars.
A wooden shelter would be built close to the northern hedged boundary. It would be used to store moveable agility equipment and provide cover and dry seating for dog walkers.
Permanent wooden structures, including a see-saw, tunnel and climbing frames, are also proposed, along with a sand pit.
Water troughs and dog litter bins would be provided, with a registered waste removal company used to dispose of animal waste.
The planning statement says the site is in open countryside under the North Devon and Torridge Local Plan, but adds that access adjoins part of the built form of Bradworthy and is about 100 metres from the village development boundary.
Pre-application advice dated Wednesday, December 10, says the proposal is likely to accord with planning policies in principle because a dog agility park needs a large amount of space and is well related to the settlement.
The statement says the council’s environmental protection team noted the potential for dog barking noise to affect neighbouring amenity.
In response, the applicants said use of the park would be by website bookings only, with a limit of four dogs and a maximum of two cars for each 30-minute or 60-minute booking.
Professional dog walkers with numerous dogs would not be allowed, and users would have to register.
The statement says: “Dog walkers will be required to register and if their dogs are not kept under control they will not be able to use the park in the future. The park will be open during day light hours only.”
Ecology measures proposed include leaving a three-metre strip around the dog park uncut from around April to July, reseeding two south-western corners with grass and wildflower mix, planting ten new trees, and enhancing the western boundary with native hedge species.
