A ‘much-needed’ doggy daycare will be set up at an industrial park in Scarborough following the approval of plans by North Yorkshire Council.

An industrial unit at Dunslow Court, Eastfield, Scarborough will be converted into “a fun and dog-friendly space both indoors and out” after Coastal Tails & Trails’ planning application was given the green light.

More than a dozen letters of support were sent to the planning authority by residents who said that “there is a desperate need in this area for a place where working dog owners can safely leave their dogs during the day”.

One local said it would be “a fantastic idea to have a place for dogs to run around freely and enjoy themselves whilst families are working” while another resident described it as “a much-needed facility for a dog-loving town”.

Two locals objected to the plan, raising concerns about “smell, noise, and parking availability” while another said that the proposed fencing would be “too close to our fire exit door”.

However, the council’s Property Services said it supported the plan as it would “bring into use a parcel or otherwise unused vacant land” while no objections were made by Seamer Parish Council or the Highway Authority.

The daycare will initially accommodate 20 dogs with one full-time and two part-time employees to be hired.

The applicant said they plan to eventually increase the capacity to 40 dog places and could employ up to six full-time employees.

Operating hours will be from 8am to 6pm on weekdays with primary operating hours between 9am and 3pm while Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday services will eventually also be offered.

The applicant, Suzanne Bishop, has said that the business will operate “like a children’s nursery, but for dogs” where canines of “all shapes and sizes can spend their days exercising and socialising with their four-legged friends and dog-loving staff”.

The “heated and well-ventilated indoor building” has an area of 110 square metres and the outdoor space, which has an area of 180 square metres, will provide “grass areas for play and toileting, moveable agility equipment, enrichment areas, relaxation areas”.

The application was approved by North Yorkshire Council on Tuesday, November 27.