PLANS to transform an industrial unit in Wellington into a swimming pool for dogs has been approved.

Miss Deanne Riley, of Waggin Adventures, applied to Somerset Council for permission to change the use of Unit Six at Westpark Business Park, into an appointment-only recreational canine swimming facility.

She was granted conditional approval by Somerset Council on March 5.

The proposal includes the installation of a stand-alone above-ground swimming pool, along with a small reception area, a changing space and safety features such as a gated pool entry and an access ramp.

The applicant says the building will retain its existing external appearance, and that all internal alterations would be fully reversible.

The facility will operate between 7 am and 8 pm, seven days a week.

In a letter on the proposal, Vicky Giles, said: “This will be a great addition to Wellington, I can’t wait to visit.”

Georgia Haines commented on the application, she said: “I strongly support this planning application. This type of facility provides a valuable community service, particularly for dog owners who want a safe, controlled environment for exercise, rehabilitation, or behavioural reasons.

“There are very limited similar facilities in the local area, and demand for responsible dog services is clearly increasing.”

The unit has remained vacant since it was constructed in October 2024 and was last authorised for industrial and storage use.

According to the application, the swimming sessions would be pre-booking only, with one booking at a time, and would be limited to dogs from the same household.

Vehicle movements would be managed through staggered appointment times, with existing access and parking arrangements within the business park remaining unchanged.

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The proposal includes safety measures such as, mandatory dog life jackets, controlled pool access, CCTV monitoring, a customer waiver and safety instructions provided prior to use.