Boarding kennel and cattery firm loses appeal after licence refusal upheld

A Cambridgeshire-based animal boarding business has lost its appeal against a local authority’s refusal to grant it an operating licence, following findings of serious welfare and safety deficiencies.

In Greenacre Farm Boarding Kennels and Cattery Ltd v Huntingdonshire District Council, the First-tier Tribunal (General Regulatory Chamber) upheld decisions by Huntingdonshire District Council to refuse both a renewal and a new licence application submitted by the company.

The dispute arose after inspections in late 2024 and mid-2025 identified widespread non-compliance with the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018. Inspectors classified the premises as “higher risk” and reported numerous concerns, including inadequate sleeping accommodation for animals, poor temperature regulation, and signs of structural disrepair.

The business argued that some of the areas assessed were not in active use and should not have been considered. It also pointed to earlier inspections in 2018 and 2022, which had not raised similar issues, and claimed improvements had been made after the initial refusal.

However, the council maintained that the deficiencies were systemic and affected even those parts of the facility currently in use. It argued that the premises failed to meet minimum statutory standards required to ensure animal welfare.

Dismissing the appeal, the Tribunal conducted a full reconsideration of the case and concluded that the council’s decision was justified. It found that the accommodation provided for animals was neither sufficiently enclosed nor of adequate size, and that overall conditions fell below the regulatory baseline.

The Tribunal also emphasised that compliance must be demonstrated at the time of inspection. While acknowledging that some improvements had been made, it held that these did not remedy the fundamental issues identified earlier.

Christopher Hopkins of No.5 Chambers acted for Huntingdonshire District Council.