Wednesday December 3rd 2025
The Dog Day Care Centre, in Gorebridge has been operating for 20 years
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Marie Sharp
A bid to replace an ageing barn with shipping containers at a dog day care business has been backed by councillors despite planners describing it as ‘too much’.
The owner of the Dog Day Care Centre in Gorebridge had applied to install the containers on a field where it was argued they would be screened from people passing by.
The containers would provide shelter and accommodation for dogs as well as providing space for staff at the centre.
And the centre owner said the new containers would be more energy efficient than the current building which has been used for the business for more than 20 years.
Midlothian Council planners refused permission for the changes saying the four containers which measure 24 metres in length and are 2.4 metres wide and 2.6 metres high were too much for the rural site.
They raised concern about the use of shipping containers in general as unsuitable for long term plan and said, in a report rejecting them: “The planning authority have concerns over the long term use of shipping containers as these have a temporary appearance which are not suitable for long term or permanent use.
“Where these are approved, these are generally conditioned to be in place for up to five years to allow the applicant to find a permanent, long term solution for the use. In this instance, the size and scale of development is too much and not appropriate for the rural area.
At a meeting of the council’s Local Review Body earlier this week, however, elected members overturned the decision by planners after visiting the day care centre themselves.
Councillor Colin Cassidy, review body member, led a motion calling for an appeal by the business owner to be upheld.
He said: “Given we are seeing containers used more and more in businesses like this and the fact the business has been established more than 20 years, is a business that serves the community and the public and is for animal welfare I propose we overturn the decision and let them have their way.”
He was backed by fellow councillor Dianne Alexander who said: “I think the company are trying their very best and trying to be very green and I think any support we can give them would be great.”
The review body unanimously supported the appeal and granted permission for the containers.
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