Plans for Clydebank dog daycare centre refused by council

We previously reported that proposals for the change of use from equestrian purposes to dog daycare, free-run fields, and in-house kennelling at Cochno Town Farm had been submitted by Victoria Paterson to East Dunbartonshire Council (EDC) in February.

Despite the land, which sits on the outskirts of Faifley, having a Clydebank address and postcode, it does fall within the boundaries of EDC.

It came after a similar planning application for the site, which was also submitted by Ms Paterson, was rejected in March 2023.

On Thursday, April 18 the local authority published a report.

In the documents, it notes that the reasoning for the refusal was due to various factors.

Proposed site layout (Image: East Dunbartonshire Council)These included the location of the daycare centre not being compatible with the “countryside character of this part of the green belt”, the proposed uses potentially having a “long-term impact” on the environmental quality of the green belt due to their nature, and the proximity to residents being “highly likely to cause unacceptable noise disturbance”.

Flats in Whitehill Crescent in Faifley sit close to the site [the fenced area] (Image: Linda McCready)

Pictures show the close proximity between homes and the site boundary (Image: Linda McCready)The latest plans had proposed creating a dog daycare centre in the farm’s main stable with a dedicated outdoor area in field one, a dog run/walk space in fields three and four, and overnight in-house kennelling in the detached cottage.

It was also stated that the dog daycare centre would operate between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday and could take care of up to 30 dogs.

The free-run fields would have been available to the public to rent for 30-minute slots between 8am and 8pm Monday to Sunday with a maximum of eight dogs in each field.

The overnight in-house kennelling would have run 24 hours a day, seven days a week, taking care of up to ten dogs.

Overall there could have been up to 56 dogs at the site at any one time during the day between Monday to Friday and up to 26 at the site in the evenings.

In the documents published by EDC last week, it states that the applicant said they had redesigned the proposal after considering the reasons for refusal the first time.

This included commissioning a noise impact assessment and including its recommendations as well as submitting a business plan.

However, the council noted that apart from the removal of a dog grooming facility and fitness studio the uses outlined in the latest application were “not significantly different” to the previous one.

This prompted concerns from nearby residents who set up a petition calling on the local authority to refuse the plans. It gathered 106 signatures.

There were also 37 letters of objection submitted concerning this application.

These came from Provost Douglas McAllister, Councillor Lawrence O’Neill, West Dunbartonshire Council, Knowes Housing Association, and residents in Faifley.

Provost McAllister said: "I was very relieved to receive notification from East Dunbartonshire Council (EDC) confirming that this application had again been refused.

"I understand EDC refused planning permission based on various factors but I’m pleased that they recognised the unacceptable noise disturbance this could have created.

"The site is too close to many residents homes and I shared their concerns. I appreciate the applicant has a right of appeal but hopefully, this draws a line under matters and that my constituents finally have peace of mind that it won’t go ahead."

It is understood that the applicant will have three months to appeal the decision.