Council rejects mini zoo plans
Cookham: ‘No special circumstances’ for greenbelt site
An application to temporarily transform a site in Cookham into a mini zoo has been refused by the Royal Borough.
In November, Wildway Wildlife Ltd applied for retrospective planning permission to retain its site in Lower Mount Farm in Long Lane, Cookham until January 2026.
Wildway Wildlife Mini Zoo first opened to the public in May last year but the council later refused its licence, citing a lack of prior planning permission.
The planning application looked to change the use of the site into a mini zoo animal education centre, with the erection of associated buildings, parking and enclosures.
The development is in the greenbelt, but the applicant argued there were ‘very special circumstances’ to allow the zoo as it was located within a commercial farm already serving the general public, was separate from residential developments, and would provide local economic and employment benefits.
A total of 72 letters in support of the application and 45 objecting to it were received.
Some of the comments in support stated the zoo is a ‘great local attraction’, would increase tourism and is ‘very educational’ for school pupils and the public in Cookham.
Objectors raised concerns over traffic and the area being in the greenbelt.
Comments discussing the welfare of the animals were noted, but were ‘not a material planning consideration in the determination of the application’.
In a decision notice published last week, the council said the application had been refused for reasons including that the proposals would be ‘inappropriate development in the greenbelt’.
It added: “In addition, the proposal would result in loss of openness to the greenbelt. No very special circumstances have been demonstrated that would outweigh the harm to the greenbelt.”
Reasons for refusal also touch on the surrounding area, stating that the erection of the facilitating structure and the introduction of metal containers, fencing and hardsurfacing are all ‘alien to the surrounding agricultural environment and are at odds with the character and appearance of the area, which is open farmland’.
The decision added: “The nature of the development is such that the level of activity and noise at the site associated with the use and associated visitors, would significantly increase.
“Unacceptable harm to neighbouring amenity is identified as a result of these increases, which is further emphasised by this not being limited to normal working hours, given the nature of hosting live animals, nor seasonal.
“The application fails to demonstrate how vehicles would safely enter and exit the parking spaces and site in a forward gear and how the access arrangements would not result in material harm to the safe and efficient operation of the surrounding highway.”
The council added that in the absence of biodiversity enhancements, the application also fails to demonstrate that the proposals ‘would secure a net gain biodiversity’.
Wildway Wildlife Ltd was contacted for comment.