Plans have been submitted to create a new state-of-the-art pet hospital in Hull following the sale of council land.
Pets Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) entered the proposals for land adjacent to Brunswick Avenue and Waterloo Street in Central ward after a Decision Record was published authorising the sale.
PDSA, a charity which offers free and low-cost veterinary care to poorly pets in need, as well as pet help and advice, services, and support, already operates an existing animal hospital on Brunswick Avenue which is old and considered out of date.
The current facility can no longer meet the increased demand for veterinary services and so PDSA declared interest in the council-owned open space nearby.
The site is that of the former Waterloo Street shop which was demolished some years ago due to persistent vandalism and arson attacks and is now overgrown and continues to be affected by anti-social behaviour.
Under the current Local Plan, the site is designated as Open Space and, if sale terms are agreed, would bring significant capital investment into the city.
It would also provide greater capacity to care for sick animals, as well as generate additional employment whilst helping to reduce anti-social behaviour.
Cllr Paul Drake-Davis, portfolio holder for regeneration at Hull City Council, said: “The PDSA already does a very good job at its current location on Brunswick Avenue, but this proposed purchase of council land will allow it to further support animal owners in Hull access affordable veterinary care.
“The sale would also help address concerns about anti-social behaviour that have occurred on that land, something which residents and ward councillors have raised with the council.”
In 2022, PDSA supported around 7,000 households in Hull and carried out 14,700 consultation and 2,000 surgical procedures.
A spokesperson for PDSA said: “Our current site is now 38-year-old and is no longer compatible with the advances of veterinary medicine, causing operational difficulties and inefficiencies.
“We are proposing to acquire a site of 0.83 acres from Hull City Council immediately to the north of the existing site.
“This, combined with our existing site, will allow us to construct a new, much larger, purpose-built single storey veterinary hospital of 670sqm.
“The site will be landscaped to provide an attractive open environment which will help enhance the local area.”
