Homeowner seeks permission for “hobby” dog grooming business

A homeowner has asked for permission to operate a “hobby” dog grooming business from a log cabin in their garden. 

Andrew Morley has even supplied his local council’s planning department with an AI generated image of how the light green cabin will look on an area of hardstanding in the garden and against the wall of a stone building. 

Mr Morley, of Portskewett, has paid Monmouthshire County Council an additional fee to determine the application for the garden of a home in Trellech Road, Tintern under its fast track process. 

Advice already provided, by the planning department, states its initial thoughts are the proposal for a “hobby dog grooming business” are “acceptable in principle” subject to specific details on the scale and use of the building. 

A supporting statement submitted with the application said it will operate on an appointment only basis and on a limited scale. 

It explained: “No staff will be employed, and all services will be carried out by the homeowner who has a natural passion for animals. The applicant also works part-time in a doctor’s surgery, which naturally limits the number of appointments and clients. 

“The business is therefore not intended to function as a high-volume commercial enterprise, but instead as a quality-focused, one-to-one service.

This ensures a low-intensity use compatible with the residential setting.” 

A consultation runs until Wednesday, April 22 and the council intends to make a decision within 28 days of it having acknowledged the application.