Overnight dog kennels could disturb Great Portland Street residents

An application to Westminster Council for permission to use a former stationery shop on Great Portland Street as a pet store, grooming salon, and an overnight boarding kennels for dogs has raised concern from nearby residents.

According to documents submitted to the council this month, applicant Canis Marylebone Ltd is seeking a change of use of the basement and ground floor unit at 87 Great Portland Street from a vacant Class E use to a “mixed Class E retail and Sui Generis pet (dog and cat) wellness, grooming and boarding facility”.

On the ground floor would be a retail shop and day care area, while therapy rooms and overnight boarding and grooming will be undertaken in the basement.

Plans submitted to the council show capacity for up to eight dogs to be boarded in a windowless basement below street level accompanied by overnight staff.

A management plan states that the shopfront has a metal shutter which will be closed overnight to ensure that “noise is kept to a minimum and that no neighbours will be disturbed”, in effect removing an emergency escape route to the street.

The use of the premises has the potential for noise nuisance from dogs barking — something that was discussed by planning officers for an application that was granted by the council for the same operator for a premises in Margaret Street.

For that application, which was not followed through, planning officers deemed that because no residential neighbours were in the immediate vicinity, a noise nuisance from dogs barking was not an issue of concern.

However, at 87 Great Portland Street the premises is immediately below a block of 18 homes. The Fitzrovia News understands that residents living above the premises are deeply concerned about the proposed use and a number of problems it could create, including noise nuisance from barking dogs.

Due to the nature of the proposed use, a ventilation system would have to be installed along with a fire safety emergency plan, states a management plan submitted with the application.

Ahead of any decision by Westminster Council the planning application will be scrutinised by the Marylebone Association amenity society.

A public consultation on the application is open until 9 June 2025.

Use of basement and ground floor as mixed Use Class E and Sui Generis pet store, pet wellness and grooming with boarding facility.Show more description Ground Floor 87 Great Portland Street London W1W 7LU Ref. No: 25/03098/FULL | Received: Tue 06 May 2025 | Validated: Tue 06 May 2025.

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