Dog walking field plans thrown out at appeal

An appeal to create a "dog walking field" near Penshaw monument was dismissed

Plans for a bookable dog walking field have been thrown out at appeal over biodiversity concerns.

Back in August 2024, Sunderland City Council refused an application to change the agricultural land off Back Lane, near Penshaw Monument in Sunderland, into a "secure dog walking field".

Council officers had ruled the plans would "constitute inappropriate development within the green belt", and the applicant subsequently lodged an appeal.

The planning inspector did not agree with council planners on green belt issues but said proposals would not "suitably" maintain a government-mandated "biodiversity net gain".

Biodiversity net gain (BNG) is a policy which aims to create and improve natural habitats.

It requires developers to "make sure development has a measurably positive impact on biodiversity, compared to what was there before," the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The planning inspector said even if the applicant had created new habitats, the continued use of the area by dogs and their owners would mean BNG would not be maintained over time.

The appeal decision report continued: "The proposal would fail to demonstrate that the necessary BNG could be suitably maintained."