PLANS for a dedicated dog walking field near Chudleigh have been given the green-light by Teignbridge Council, despite concerns about the potential impact on protected wildlife sites.

The council has granted planning permission for the change of use of agricultural land off Parr’s Lane, subject to conditions designed to protect nearby habitats and ensure the facility is properly managed.

Work must begin within three years, Teignbridge Council have said.

The decision follows concerns raised by Natural England, which warned the development could adversely affect the Chudleigh Caves and Woods Site of Special Scientific Interest and the South Hams Special Area of Conservation without appropriate safeguards.

The application - reference 26/01228/FUL - follows the refusal of an earlier proposal in January after planning officers said inadequate and inconsistent information meant they could not fully assess the development’s potential impacts.

The revised scheme has now been approved with conditions requiring a detailed Landscape and Ecological Management Plan before any development, including site clearance, can begin.

The plan must cover proposed habitat creation and enhancement, ongoing management and monitoring, and the responsibilities of those overseeing the work.

Further conditions will regulate how the dog walking field operates, with use restricted to pre-booked sessions only.

The owner or operator must maintain a booking register, recording each session’s date, time and duration, the number of dogs attending and the associated vehicle registration. Records must be kept for at least 12 months.

Opening hours will be restricted to between 6am and 9pm from April to September, and 7am to 6pm from October to March.

No more than one customer group, one vehicle and five dogs will be permitted on the site at any one time. Sessions must last no longer than 45 minutes, with a minimum 15-minute gap between bookings.

Under the proposals, the field will be enclosed by secure deer fencing, with access maintained from Parr’s Lane.

Dog waste bins and spare bags will be provided around the field’s perimeter.

Chudleigh Town Council previously raised no objection to the scheme.