A thriving veterinary practice in Penrith has been given the green light to move round the corner to a purpose-built centre.
Frame, Swift & Partners will leave its base at Carleton, where it has been for 23 years, for a large new centre built on a field off nearby Carleton Hill Road.
Planning permission was unanimously granted by Eden local area planning committee sitting at Penrith Town Hall on Wednesday.
The move to a larger site will allow the business to improve services and employ more staff in the years to come, said Kate Bellwood, a planning consultant acting on behalf of the practice.
It has ambitions to add veterinary services across all species which are not currently available anywhere else in Cumbria, councillors were told. Vet Sam Galloway told the meeting that the business had more than 35 staff, including 18 vets and 10 nurses.
A new upper floor would provide improved areas for staff breaks and a meeting area for staff training or client events.
Mr Galloway added: “Our current building is simply not designed for the number of staff we now have, or for the volume of equipment required to run a modern veterinary care centre with 18 vets.
“The new site will allow us to continue to develop the practice for many years to come.
“It’s on the same access road as our current site, which has proved to be convenient for small animal, farm and equine clients. It is also close enough to the edge of Penrith for us to continue being part of the community.”
Councillor Mike Eyles (Lib Dem, Penrith East) proposed that the development be permitted. He was seconded by councillor Colin Atkinson (Con, Hesket and Lazonby).
Mr Eyles said: “We are building an immense number of houses in Penrith and it is important that our infrastructure keeps pace with that. If we lost these vets, it would have a great detrimental effect.”
Mr Atkinson added: “Penrith is a rural community with a strong agricultural background — we need places like this in Penrith and it will be an asset.”
Councillor Mary Robinson (Ind, Alston and Fellside) added: “Having had to travel to Shropshire to get some of the services I needed veterinary-wise, any development that enhances veterinary services in Cumbria, I absolutely welcome.”
The new environmentally sensitive centre will comprise a large scale veterinary clinic with an enlarged front-of-house area.
It will contain multiple consulting rooms for small animals, operating theatres, hospitalisation units and dental suites. Equine cases will be accommodated towards the rear, with an anaesthetic induction and theatre suite, stabling and examination rooms provided.
There will also be improved provision for the examination of farm animals and better access for farm clientele, said Mr Galloway.
There will be 30 parking spaces for clients, 24 staff spaces, 12 large van/vet spaces and a large secure turning area for vehicles carrying equine and large animals.
The practice had considered expanding its current home but decided this was not feasible. The vacant site can later be developed for around 25 houses, the meeting was told.
Of 147 representations received by council planners, 144 were in support with three against and a total of 18 neighbours were consulted.
