Robin Hill Farm Kennel Proposal

Department of Local Government and the Environment Planning and Building Control Directorate Planning Section Murray House Mount Haverlock Douglas IM1 2SF

Dear Planning Officers and Planning Committee Re: Proposed New Kennel Development at Robin Hill Farm Please find our plans enclosed for a new kennels facility at the above address for which we are seeking planning approval.

We are currently cleaning up the farm and are planning to use the farm since we purchased it February 2006, for breeding and rearing pedigree sheep and arable growing activities, however this will not sustain the farm going forward and there is a need to look at diversifying our farming activities, so to ensure that Robin Hill Farm remains a viable proposition as a farm within the local community.

We have look at various diversifying options and have consider many including intense pig or poultry farming, however we feel that with our experience of owing and breeding dogs the most suitable route to achieve a good balanced of income streams for the farm is the erection of a new barn to houses a well designed, good quality kennels for Dogs and Cats to serve the south of the island.

We have studied all the issues around operating a boarding kennels, talked to many people within this sector of the market and industry and based the on feed back obtain have applied the most suitable best practices when developing and drawing up our plans for the new kennels.

We have looked very carefully at the impact the new building will have in the local area and in particular on our near neighbours. To reduce any impact the development may have, we have chosen to use a low profile agricultural building no taller than 16 feet at the ridge which will blend into the local farming environment.

We have also positioned the building, so that the natural lay of the land acts as a shield for the development with regards to both visual and noise impact. Further more we also intend to drop the height of the development by excavating the site down a further 3 feet. The excavated material will then be used to create banks around the other three sides of the building to act as shields against the visual and noise impact the new development may have towards the east and south. These banks would be grassed and hedge along there tops.

Site security has been addressed to ensure that there are no escapees within the new building and further security fencing would be installed discreetly behind the banks as a line of security from both internal and external sources.

Within the building we have again considered best practice to reduce noise over the cost of the development and have gone for a more expensive design with three central corridors similar to the new building at the MSPCA. This design minimises the disruption of dogs while they are in their kennels and runs. We have also paid particular attention to sound proofing by the design and the use of suitable materials to reduce any noise.

We intend the kennel complex to be one of the best within the Isle of Man and with this development we believe we can offer our new customers the best in dog care without affecting the local community. We intend to offer collection and delivery services to minimise vehicle movements and also restrict the time customers can come and go to the site by having set opening times.

These kennels are an important part to restoring Robin Hill Farm to a respectable farm within the local community and we are strong believers of being good neighbours and feel that we can contribute to the local environment by improving the farm. But to do this we must be able to generate an income from the farm.

Should there be any concerns over our plans please feel free to discuss them with us. Will be happy to consider any recommendations made by the planning department and welcome the planning committee to visit the farm should they wish.

Yours sincerely

Phil and Julie Cripps