Bookable dog walking field plans approved

The proposal had previously been dismissed and its developers' appeal thrown out

Plans for a bookable dog walking field have been given the green light, more than a year after first being submitted.

Sunderland City Council has approved an application to change the use of agricultural land off Back Lane in Penshaw, despite previously being turned down and an appeal by developers thrown out over biodiversity concerns.

Proposals for the fenced-off site were initially refused in August 2024 after they were ruled to "constitute inappropriate development" within a green belt area.

Resubmitted again in June with an amended "habitat management and monitoring plan", they were deemed acceptable by the Labour-led council on Thursday.

Supporting documents from the applicant, referenced by council planners in the decision report, included operations being "restricted to a maximum of five dogs allowed in the field at any one time (per single booking)".

Meanwhile, the "proposed parking area would accommodate up to two cars, with space to turn".

'Natural surroundings'

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, planners also accepted that "the proposed use would not compromise nor prejudice the ability to revert back to farmable land as and when the proposed use ceased".

The council added that its environmental health team had been consulted and had raised no objections, "subject to the imposition of recommended planning conditions relating to noise management and hours of operation".

A spokesperson said it had been satisfied the development would not impact upon "the significance of Penshaw Monument, any other nearby designated heritage assets or to neighbouring amenity".

"While the proposals, including new road access and parking area, would intensify the site's use, they are not considered unacceptably harmful or disrespectful of their natural surroundings," they added.