South Molton farmers hope to diversify into dog boarding kennels

Farmers living in a hamlet near South Molton are hoping to get planning permission to run a dog kennels on their land.

The Hughes family of Cleave Barton at Meshaw want to convert and alter an agricultural barn for this purpose.

Planning documents to North Devon Council say the barn is currently not in use for agricultural purposes following a change to the farm’s working practices and the owners are looking to supplement the farming enterprise through diversification.

A substantial parking area was available at the farm for clients and the site was surrounded by trees and hedgerows and had no immediate neighbours to pose detriment.

It was not within a special landscape designation or conservation area and there were no listed buildings on site, said the planning agents.

They said the increase in dog ownership since the pandemic meant there was a demand for places where people could leave dogs during the day or when they went on holiday.

The applicants aimed to provide an experience for pets ‘that mirrors the comforts of home’.

North Devon Council will decide on the application in the coming weeks.