RETROSPECTIVE plans to install a kennel for greyhounds on an area of green land in Shipley will go before a planning panel next week - and planners have recommended the application be refused.

Over 1,400 people wrote to Bradford Council urging them to refuse the plans - making it one of the most objected to applications to ever go before the authority.

Members of the Bradford District Planning Panel will make a decision on the application, which has been submitted by Habib Khan, during an online meeting on Wednesday.

A report to the committee points out that the building lies within Green Belt and is an "incongruous feature" that would harm the area.

It has been recommended that members refuse the scheme.

Many of the objections revolve around claims about the welfare of the dogs in the site, with some implying they are being mistreated or kept in poor conditions.

Plans for ‘Grand Design’ on Green Belt site are refused

However, the report going before the planning panel reveals that when an animal welfare officer made a surprise inspection to the site they found the animals to be well looked after and for the facilities to be in "good order."

They went on to say that conditions in the shed are better than those found in some licensed kennels.

The application is to retain a 3.75 metre by 12.1 metres shed, and was submitted after the Council's planning enforcement team became involved.

The report to Wednesday's committee says: "The site is not being operated as a commercial boarding kennels so are not subject to any licensing regime covered by the Council.

"Nevertheless, the Council’s Animal Welfare Officer has visited the facility (arriving unannounced) and advises that welfare conditions and cleanliness standards are high and, indeed, higher than some licensed premises.

"Although there is no legal requirement for the building to be subjected to regular welfare inspections, the Council’s Animal Welfare Officer considers the kennels to be in good order. They are maintained daily, have windows, heating, ventilation and CCTV.

"The Welfare Officer had no welfare concerns about the facility, noting that each dog had good body condition, clean bedding and fresh drinking water."

But it goes on to say the building is of a poor design, and that "the applicant has not demonstrated that the potential harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm resulting from the proposal, is clearly outweighed by other considerations."

The committee meets online at 10am on Wednesday.