PLANS to create an area to exercise dogs at a farm in Birkenshaw look set to be approved next week.

A change of use application for the land at Blue Hills Farm in the village is to go before Kirklees Council's strategic planning committee.

Planners have assessed the plans, which would see a grass field adjoining the farm buildings become a dog park.

With the addition of a condition about the operating hours being 7am to 7pm, seven days a week, a maximum of three dogs at once, and a ban on artificial lighting, they are recommending it be approved.

The site itself is described as "a working farm which has diversified commercially to contain a café, farm shop and a play barn".

There would be no need to improve the access or provide any additional parking.

In relation to a nearby housing development, which already has approval, a report states: "On the basis that the dog park would not be used by any more than three dogs at any given time, the proposed harm through noise and disturbance would be limited."

The field in question is 0.6 hectares in size and has existing fencing and dry stone wall boundaries.