AN appeal has been lodged with West Devon Borough Council (WDBC) against the authority’s refusal for the change of use of a storage building to a retail unit in Tavistock, intended for a Pets at Home store.

The planning application to change the use of the former Fairway Furniture warehouse from class B8 (storage and distribution) to A1 (retail), submitted by building owners Harding and Sons Ltd, was refused by WDBC in October last year.

The application included retail with ancillary pet grooming and pet services, external alterations to building and site layout including car parking amendments, the creation of two customer entrances and associated works. The intention was for a Pets at Homes store to locate there.

Quod, the agent working on behalf of Harding and Sons Ltd, has appealed the decision on the basis that the planning authority’s ‘determi-nation of the application and the concerns raised are not clear due to the limited response provided during their consideration of the planning application and the confused nature of the officer’s report’.

The statement went on to say that: ‘It is therefore critical in the determination of this appeal that the relevant issues are discussed fully by all parties and the policy requirement and the assessment that has been undertaken is fully understood.’

The Planning Inspectorate plans to hold a hearing for the appeal on August 30 at the West Devon Borough Council offices at Kilworthy Park, Tavistock.