AN animal hospice near Longtown has been granted retrospective planning permission by Cumberland Council for a number of outbuildings and timber sheds to replace the original storm damaged buildings.

It is for a site on land opposite Rigghead Cottage in Hethersgill and it is for two outbuildings and three timber sheds.

The application was submitted by the Penny Jones Animal Hospice, which is based at the cottage and, according to the decision notice, permission was granted subject to conditions.

The report states that work on the project must begin within three years, in strict accordance with the approved planning documents and the outbuildings and sheds shall only be used for the provision of "animal hospice facilities and their associated uses".

A separate decision and reasons report states that there was one objection to the development from a neighbour and there was no response from Hethersgill Parish Council.

The report concludes: "In overall terms, the retrospective proposal does not adversely affect the living conditions of adjacent properties through intensification of use, unacceptable noise and disturbance, loss of privacy or loss of light.

"The scale and design of the replacement buildings are compatible with their rural environs. The replacement buildings are served by an existing vehicular access and would not have a detrimental impact on the highway network or biodiversity.

"In all aspects the proposals are compliant with the objectives of the NPPF, PPG and relevant adopted local plan policies and SPD."

According to a planning statement two existing buildings used by the animal hospice were destroyed during Storm Arwen, in November 2021 and then Storm Barra the following month.

The report states: "The applicant has constructed five small replacement buildings, she was unaware that planning permission was required for the replacement buildings, which were constructed following storm damage to existing buildings."

According to the report the replacement buildings actually result in a reduction in floorspace and it adds: "Previously the buildings covered 126.73 square metres and the proposed buildings cover 115.83 square metres.

"There is no intensification in the use of the site and so there will be no change to the previous situation. The proposal does not introduce development that will have a detrimental impact on the residential amenity of any nearby properties."