Animal charity calls for welfare threshold

The charity has written to Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles raising concerns that animal welfare is currently not a “material consideration” in the planning process – which is currently undergoing a review.

The RSPCA wants to see welfare become a key consideration in applications that involve farm or domestic animals, such as kennels, catteries or farms.

RSPCA chief executive Mark Watts said that while planning departments were willing to accept comments on the animal welfare aspects of a proposal, they made it clear that applications could not be turned down on those grounds.

Making animal welfare a material consideration for certain schemes will protect animals and also ensure developments are treated consistently whether they are for a handful of dog kennels or a mega-dairy, the RSPCA said.

Plans for a 3,770-cow dairy at Nocton Heath, Lincolnshire, were withdrawn earlier this year.

The proposals for the UK’s largest dairy met widespread opposition, with concerns raised about the environmental and animal welfare effects.

The RSPCA said making welfare a key consideration for such large-scale schemes would help planning authorities analyse claims made by opponents.

Planning decisions on large farms are likely to become more common, the RSPCA said, as the industry looks to expand to survive.

While the RSPCA believes “intensive” farming where the animals are in a situation that prevents normal behaviour and compromises their welfare is unacceptable, the charity said it was not just the number of animals that had an influence.

Mr Watts said: “While planning departments are willing to accept comments regarding animal welfare – and where appropriate the RSPCA has submitted our concerns about specific applications – planning departments do make it clear that it is not a ‘material consideration’ and thus an application cannot be turned down on those grounds.”