PLANS to expand a dog breeding business and develop an equestrian centre and campsite on a farm in Rockwell Green appear to have been dropped in favour of a housing scheme.

The proposals for dog kennels, a clinic and glamping pitches at Henley Farm, Payton, caused a furore with neighbours when they were revealed earlier this year and were strongly recommended for refusal by Wellington town councillors.

However, the application by Simon and Zoe Raw, who own the nationally-known Rawsome Dachshunds dog breeding business, was withdrawn in November.

Now they have applied to develop two barns into five homes, the maximum permitted under new planning policies which allow agricultural conversions.

Previously they wanted to use one of the barns for a dog kennels and the other for an indoor horse menage, together with a dog agility course alongside.

Planning consultant Tim Teuber said the new application fell under the ‘Class Q’ planning category amended by the Government last year, a type of permitted development intended to relieve pressure on housing in rural areas.

This meant that providing the barns were part of an agricultural business before March, 2020, the district council could not refuse up to four homes of a maximum of 100 sq metres each and one of up to 465 sq metres, making five in total.

Mr Teuber said the scheme proposed for Henley Farm was to convert one barn into four two-bedroom homes each of 80 sq metres and to use the second barn for a 180 sq metre four-bedroom house.

He said the site was in agricultural use before 2020 and Google Earth images dating from as far back as 2001 showed livestock in the field next to the barns.

“This was under the previous owner than the applicants of this site who used the barns and surrounding land for agricultural purposes,” said Mr Teuber.

“The new owners of the site have continued to use the site for agricultural purposes, however, do not require these barns for their purposes.

“The proposal will not require work beyond the installation or replacement of windows, doors, roofs, exterior walls, water, drainage, electricity, gas or other services to a reasonable extent for the functioning dwelling house.

“Off-road parking for all units will be provided outside the respective dwellings for two vehicles and each new dwelling will also have their own private rear amenity space.

“All the units will share the same site access off the public highway, being the existing agricultural access for these barns.”

The district council has until February 15 to approve the application and because of the ‘Class Q’ category, neighbours do not have a right to comment on, or object to, the plans.