Plans to turn Derbyshire green belt field into dog walking park submitted

A proposal to turn a green belt field near Spondon, Derbyshire, into a dog walking park has been submitted to Erewash Borough Council.

The applicants have cited high demand in the area for such a facility “given the marked increase in dog ownership during the Covid-19 pandemic”, the documents noted.

The location of the site lends itself to this use, the applicants added, being situated between Spondon and Oakwood, two densely populated settlements to the east of Derby.

If approved, the facility will operate seven days a week from 08am until 7pm on weekdays, and 9am until 6pm on weekends and bank holidays.

A small car parking area for up to two cars, with a permeable surface, will also be created by the
entrance to the site to the northeast, while dog waste bins will be provided at locations around the site.

“The proposed location and use of the site will provide no impact on the openness and
permanence of the Green Belt,” the application concluded.

“It will, however, provide wider community benefits by providing secure, open space for dog owners to safely exercise their dogs, providing health and well-being benefits for both pet and owner. This will, in turn, bolster the local rural economy by providing a diversification opportunity on land in otherwise purely agricultural use.”