CORNWALL COUNCIL VALIDATES PLANNING APPLICATION FOR ST FRANCIS DOGS HOME’S NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY
A well-known and loved dog rehoming Charity, St Francis Dogs Home, is delighted to confirm that Cornwall Council has validated its planning application for the Charity’s new state-of-the-art facility. Based in Porth, Newquay, the validation of the application for a purpose built facility will accelerate the transformation of dog welfare in the area and safeguard the future of St Francis Dogs Home for many more years to come. This is the first step and full planning permission is now being considered by the Council and is welcome news after St Francis Home’s Open Day event which was held in October.
The exciting plans incorporate the rebuild of the Home in order for it to become a leading centre for excellence, raising the standards of animal welfare whilst serving dogs and their owners across Cornwall and beyond. The plans include the demolition of the existing kennels and all ancillary structures, to be replaced by one new purpose built re-homing building, and are part of an ambitious new strategy for St Francis Dogs Home. This strategy also includes the addition of expert skills through new Trustees and a financially sustainable approach to operations moving forward.
Over the past few months St Francis Dogs Home has worked collaboratively with leading specialist Architecture firm, Veterinary Architects, to bring these plans to life. Veterinary Architects has vast experience in developing facilities which put animal care at the forefront and the resulting plans echo St Francis Dogs Home’s commitment to putting dogs at the heart of everything that it does.
The planning process has included scrutinising successive versions of the draft plans and liaising with experts across the sector to ensure that St Francis Dogs Home’s new facilities are truly outstanding. The new building will include an office and staff facilities as well as 12 kennels, whilst the existing Training Hall barn will be transformed into a Doggy Day Care facility. The new site has been designed to keep rescue dogs and the Doggy Day Care separate from each other to ensure the highest standards of welfare.
While the best standard of care for St Francis’ dogs is paramount, Veterinary Architects has placed great emphasis on environmental factors. For example, the newest existing kennels, a block of six near the bottom of the site, are being reused in the plans. Additionally, hard core from the demolished areas is being reused in the foundations and there are many other environmental aspects in the design and running of the new buildings.
A spokesperson from the Charity Trustee Board, said: “This is yet another incredibly exciting step on our journey to transforming St Francis Dogs Home and we are delighted that Cornwall Council has validated our plans. A great deal of hard work has gone into developing these plans and we are committed to creating the very best facilities possible for the dogs in our care.
“Futureproofing the Charity has been front of mind throughout the entire planning process, meaning that we have explored new ideas and different ways of working at every stage. St Francis Dogs Home is committed to putting dogs at the heart of everything we do and the new facility forms just one aspect of this. We are dedicated to raising the standards of dog welfare across the board, including working with specialist behaviourists meaning that we can continue to make a lasting difference to dogs’ lives. Ultimately, the final plans offer an exciting glimpse into the future of St Francis Dogs Home, and we cannot wait for building work to start on the new facilities. The validation of the plans by Cornwall Council means that we are ever closer to seeing the transformation of St Francis Dogs Home come to fruition and reopening our doors to help dogs across Cornwall.”
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