K9 Anytime Expansion.

Berrys was proud to support the expansion of award-winning dog daycare provider K9 Anytime at Upper Brockhurst Farm, near Shifnal.

The project involved the sensitive conversion of a series of unused agricultural barns, including a historic threshing barn into a purpose-designed, high-quality dog daycare facility. The site forms part of the Bradford Estate, a forward-thinking landholding with a long-term vision for sustainable land stewardship and rural economic growth.

This development exemplifies the sustainable re-use of redundant rural buildings, creating new commercial opportunities while preserving the heritage and rural character of the site.

How We Approached The Project

The buildings proposed for development were part of a cluster of existing agricultural structures, adjacent to a previously refurbished cattle shed. Historically, all buildings were used in support of the working farm and are ancillary to the nearby farmhouse.

At the time of application, the barns constructed of brick and corrugated metal were unused and had previously served as storage facilities. The site was accessible via an existing tarmac road and offered strong potential for commercial re-use.

Our approach focused on the holistic rejuvenation of the site to benefit both the physical setting and the local economy. Working closely with K9 Anytime, a well-established and growing Shropshire business, we ensured that the proposal aligned with the broader ambition of supporting rural enterprise while enhancing and preserving the site’s agricultural character.

Our key responsibilities included:

• Planning Consultancy to manage the change of use to a commercial dog daycare centre.
• Architectural Design that respected and retained the rural heritage of the buildings
• Engineering Input to ensure the safe and functional transformation of barns into usable internal spaces
• Heritage Advice to protect the significance of the historic threshing barn through a minimal intervention strategy

How We Achieved The Project

Berrys successfully secured planning consent for the change of use of the barns to a small-scale, commercial dog daycare centre accommodating up to 60 dogs daily.

Key elements of the project delivery included:

• Retention of historic character through a light-touch conversion of the threshing barn, using like-for-like materials, timber panelling and surface mounted conduit wiring to prevent damage to the historic fabric
• Design and fit-out of the buildings to include indoor relaxation rooms, outdoor adventure play zones, grooming facilities and a raw food and natural treat pantry
• Preservation of the site’s agricultural setting and appearance, with minimal visual impact and retention of existing access via the tarmac road
• Ensuring the development met all requirements for animal welfare, environmental health and building standards, creating a high-quality facility without detriment to the rural area
• Supporting the growth of a successful local business with K9 Anytime expanding from their original Shropshire base into this new location

This proposal represents a low-impact, sustainable development that brings unused buildings back into productive use, strengthens the local rural economy and respects the site’s heritage value.

The expansion of K9 Anytime at Upper Brockhurst Farm illustrates how Berrys’ multidisciplinary expertise delivers sustainable rural development with care and precision. Our planning, architecture, engineering and heritage teams worked in tandem to create a scheme that:

• Reuses existing buildings for commercial benefit
• Supports rural economic growth
• Preserves and enhances heritage assets
• Aligns with estate-wide sustainability goals

Enabling the transformation of disused agricultural barns into a thriving, small-scale rural enterprise, reinforcing our commitment to making rural places work sustainably, sensitively and successfully