The owners of a kennels for cats and dogs near Baldock are planning to retire and allow the land to be used for seven bungalows. North Herts Council's planning committee voted to grant permission for the bungalows to be built at a meeting yesterday (Thursday, September 5).

Country Boarding for Cats and Dogs, located off the A505 between Baldock and Royston, will shut down, with the existing reception building becoming a three-bedroom bungalow. All other existing buildings would be demolished to allow six three-bedroom bungalows to be built.

Each bungalow will have three parking spaces and electric vehicle charging, with solar panels also expected to be included.

Jeremy Burrowes, who owns the kennels with his wife, said: "We're both past retirement age and we've been trying to sell this business for four years without success.

"The trend for large kennels – we were licensed by the authority for 75 dogs – the trend is only downwards.

"Many kennels have closed over the past five years, certainly in the local area … I'm not aware of any that have opened in North Herts in the past 13 years. Overnight day care now takes place in people's private homes."

He said the site has "had a troubled past with neighbours, due to noise and nuisance incidents. I will imagine the neighbours will be only too pleased at the prospect of being rid of quite a large business next to their properties."

Mr Burrowes added that, ten years ago, he would have been opposed to this kind of development, but said: "We found that our three daughters have had to move away from North Herts because they can't afford to buy a house in this area due to the housing shortage.

"It's a pity the kennels can't carry on but given our circumstances we feel this is the most appropriate use for this site."

The site is not in the Green Belt and due to the limited number of homes planned, there was no requirement for the site to include housing deemed affordable according to the government definition of the term. It is expected that the development would result in a lower number of car trips to and from the site compared to its use as a kennels for the last 13 years.

Hertfordshire Highways objected to the proposal and noted the lack of a nearby bus stop or a formal crossing across the A505. They said there were no footpaths or safe cycle routes along Deadman's Hill, where the kennels are located.

Cllr Elizabeth Dennis, chairing the committee, said it was "disappointing" Highways did not send a representative to respond to questions from councillors.