The owners of a dog rehabilitation centre have again been refused permission to retain the use of their land and build a worker’s house on the site.

Planning permission for K9 Rehab at Pendle Bridge Lodge, Woodend Road, Reedley, was first refused in June, but after a resubmission, lengthy battle, and numerous meetings, the application was refused again on September 23.

Following the initial refusal, owners of K9 Rehab, who currently live in a caravan which is illegally sited on the land, resubmitted plans to Pendle Borough Council asking if they could keep using the site as a rehab centre for dogs and build a more permanent accommodation for workers, who are required at the site 24 hours a day.

Lisa Tennant bought the land and set up the dog rehabilitation business at the site in summer 2019, which had an existing well-maintained barn building ideal for both the dog rehabilitation business and stabling of her horses.

However, there was no residential accommodation, and her business required a presence on-site for the dogs 24/7, so Mrs Tennant placed two residential caravans on the land.

READ MORE: Pendle's K9 Rehab owners battle with council to build workers' home on site

The council then served enforcement notices for the storage of two caravans in September/October 2019 and one of the caravans was removed and an appeal lodged against the notices.

The enforcement notices were subsequently withdrawn, but a further notice was served against the remaining caravan in February 2020.

Mrs Tennant did not appeal against this notice as she says she did not receive it, and therefore found herself in breach of the enforcement, with the matter now subject to court action by the council.

Mrs Tennant’s application to build a new dwelling for workers at the site would allow the business, which involves standard obedience and agility training and training in tracking and various working trials to the highest standards that include dogs for the military and the police, to develop and grow.

The issue with the application and development of the site is that the site is on green belt land, and as a rural workers dwelling would not meet any of the exceptions identified in the Pendle development framework, it amounts to an inappropriate development which is not allowed in the green belt, except in very special circumstances.

Dozens of responses were received by Pendle Council all in support of the application, raising the point that Mrs Tennant and K9 Rehab are providing a valuable public service.

However, a report to the planning committee last week stated: “The applicant accepts that the development does not fall in line with any of the exceptions that would indicate this development is not inappropriate development.

“The statement indicates that development that is inappropriate can only be allowed where there are very special planning circumstances shown. As the development is an inappropriate development it should only be approved if there are very special planning circumstances.

“The applicant has applied for a dwelling on the land which does not accord with the Framework in this regard. As such, the principle of development in this case is unacceptable within the green belt.

“The requirement is that it must be essential for a rural worker to be on site in order to justify a dwelling. The majority of the dog training takes place with day visits with dogs and their owners. The majority of the canine use therefore does not require a presence overnight. Taking care of 10 dogs overnight is not adequate justification to justify erecting a permanent dwelling on the land.

“The council have received concerns that if this business were to close there is nothing in the surrounding area which would assist potentially dangerous dogs, from harm to the public.

“This does not form part of the planning case as the business could be set up elsewhere in a field, not within the green belt which would provide a suitable alternative to this particular location. As such, the principle is not with the operation of a dog rehabilitation facility, but rather the need for a dwelling here, which the report has set out is not necessary.”

The application was refused on September 23.

Previous applications to change the use from agricultural land to equine, and retain the stable building for five horses with hard standing area, have all been approved by Pendle Council.

It is unclear whether Mrs Tennant will resubmit plans for a third time, and the future of the business is also unknown at this stage.