A former golf course has been given a new lease of life – as a doggy day care centre.

The owners of Doggy Day Care Cornwall are now seeking retrospective planning permission for the change of use of the land.

Based on the former Greenacres Golf Course at St Erth, the dog care facility was launched after the golf course closed two years ago.

The business offers hourly and full day care services as well as home boarding and puppy socialisation. It is currently licensed to have up to 25 day care dogs a day.

Documents submitted with the planning application state that the site is around 4.5 hectares and is “mostly grassed with belts of evergreen trees”.

There is also a single-storey building which was previously used as a reception, cafe and store for the golf course.

The golf course closed two years ago due to the owner’s health and he has leased it to the dog care centre operators, who are seeking permission to continue operating from the site as well keeping two sheds, a polytunnel and fencing on the site.

Doggy Day Care Cornwall has been running since 2015 when it was based next to the golf course. It is licensed by Cornwall Council and the supporting documents say it is “run to a high standard”.

The statement adds: “The applicants found a demand for the services they offer and they investigated expanding the business.

"When the neighbouring golf course became available they produced the attached business plan.

“It explains the core activity of providing day-care for dogs (accompanied or unaccompanied by their owners). The site does not operate at night.

“The building on the site is also used for light refreshments and to sell dog food and similar products.”

It adds: “The business plan refers to employment, which may well grow further. The applicants continue to run their business with high standards of management and supervision.”

The report states that the centre currently employs five full-time members of staff and three part-time and over the next year is looking to recruit six more people to the team.

It also highlights that the centre will not take on dogs who bark too much: “Barking dogs can upset the calm dynamic so Doggy Day Care Cornwall operates on the basis of not accepting dogs that are deemed to moderately or excessively bark, for the best interests of the group and neighbours.”