A Grantham business has gained planning approval after operating three years without it.

Mr Robin Barker of 24 Rushcliffe Road, which is on the Manthorpe estate, has received approval for a change of use at his home from residential to mixed use and residential.

The application to South Kesteven District Council is to allow a dog day care and home boarding business, with online shop, at the house.

The operators had told the council they did not know they needed to make such an application until an anonymous complaint was made to SKDC and the council investigated.

The business called Absolutely Barkers is owned by Miss Marie Barker. It seeks to care for three boarding dogs and eight daycare dogs. The home would also contain their own dog.

A report by council planning staff said: "The proposal also comprises the erection of a log cabin, within the rear amenity space of the property, associated with the dog care business."

"The application is retrospective, having operated from the site since 2017."

The report said council consultation on the application resulted in one letter of representation, saying the properities in the street contain a covenant preventing their business use and the venture had operated before such use was approved.

However, recommending approval, the report continued: "Given the modest scale of the proposed building and the level of comings and goings; coupled with the nature of the business, the proposal is not considered to result in any significant

detrimental impacts on the character of the area in terms of noise and nuisance." Granting approval, the council said the business would operate from 8.30am to 5.30pm Monday to Saturday (excluding Banks Holidays). On Sundays and Bank Holidays it would operate from 8.30am to 4pm. It added: "Operation of the use outside these hours would result in unacceptable levels of noise nuisance and disturbance to local residents within a predominantly residential area."