Mason Moore | Hinckley Reporter | 3 September 2022

A LOCAL dog day care and dog walking business could soon re-locate over to on an empty plot of land off Dawsons Lane in Barwell, if plans are approved by planners.

The plan has been filed by Mr. Daemon Johnson, of Hinckley Pets in Home, which is a well-established dog sitting group that has served the area for around 10 years.

The land has sat empty and untouched since March, and it was last used for grazing by two horses. It has never been used for any agriculture because it does not have a spring for running water, as well as uneven topography.

If permission gets granted, the existing site boundary would become secured with wildlife-friendly fencing for ‘secure’ dog walks, a brand new building would be erected to play home to the dog day care centre, and new parking spaces would be created.

In a statement, Mr. Johnson said the ‘secured’ environment would see the public make use of the green wedge, and walk their dogs in a ‘safe and managed’ environment, to protect their pooches from dog thefts and attacks from other unsocialised animals.

Customers would be able to book a 45-minute session on the walking field – and it will be restricted to a maximum of four dogs at any one time. There would be an interval of 15 minutes being held in between all of the bookings.

Hinckley Pets in Home currently operate by renting land from a landowner at Cold Comfort Farm on Rogues Lane in Hinckley, and have done so since 2018.

But, by moving away from their existing rented land, and re-locating over on to the new Dawsons Lane site, they would be able to ‘secure themselves financially’ by not having to worry about any potential uncertainties which could come with renting.

Setting up on the new site would allow them to grow, and provide more jobs and work experience. They currently have seven employees, but would go up to 10 in total, and would offer work experience placements for those who need them.

It has been stressed that the new dog day care building will keep in line with the same layout and features as a stable block, helping to fit in with the design of the buildings at the nearby Inglenook Farm.

Nearby land to the development varies in rural use – including allotments to the east, Inglenook Farm, consisting of several different commercial operations to the south, and a paddock to the west.

The nearest residential properties are 90 metres to the north of the application site and are separated by an undeveloped area of land that is enclosed by a high brick wall and a public footpath.

It would trade from 8am to 5pm on the weekdays, and 10am to 4pm on Saturdays – these are different operating hours to their existing ones at their current site.

A supporting planning statement suggests that the plan should be approved because of the rise in post-pandemic pet ownership.

It reads: “The provision of dog day care on the application site would support the maintenance and establishment of strong, vibrant and healthy communities, and is especially pertinent in the post pandemic era where pet ownership has risen by 33%.

“Both the provision of day care facilities for working owners and the provision of a secure dog exercising area provide strong social benefits and improvements for the local community.”

The applicant believes that this development would support working families in Barwell by providing them a safe and secure environment for their dogs during the day, and this should be viewed as a ‘positive aspect’ of the planning proposal.

At present (3 September), there is no information online which suggests when the plans are to be put forward before the Borough Council’s planning committee.

You can view the plans by visiting (bit.ly/3CT9abN) and searching with reference: 22/00790/FUL.