A DOGGY daycare duo have unveiled plans to convert former agricultural land into an exercise yard for man’s best friend.

Paul Lawrie and Fiona McCallum, the owners of The Fast and The Furriest dog play centre, have applied for planning permission to convert grazing land into to a run area for customer’s dogs at their Peeblesshire base.

Located just outside of Eddleston, the couple offer daycare and boarding services for pooches on their seven acre-site, complete with an indoor play area, puppy creche and ‘chill-out zone’ for senior dogs.

The couple’s agent, Planning Solutions Edinburgh, has written to Scottish Borders Council’s planning department outlining why The Fast and The Furriest is looking to add three hectares of land to the canine business: “This site was chosen as it offered a quiet rural setting only a few miles from one of the Borders largest towns.

“The site also provides the dogs with a generous amount of open space which fits in well with the business ethos.

“The site’s proximity to Peebles gives the business a great opportunity to expand and potentially increase the number of local people wanting to use the service.

“The site is also easily accessible from the wider Borders area.”

The couple’s agent also moved to dispel fears neighbouring residents may have around the visual impact of fencing and a possible increase in traffic, adding: “Under no circumstances will customers ever be expected to drop off dogs at the site.

“Therefore, there would only be two movements per day Monday to Friday and no vehicle movements at the weekend or the evening.

“The perimeter of the site is fenced off using 6ft dark coloured mesh deer fencing, held in place by wooden posts, this enables the fencing to more easily blend into the surroundings.

“The fence is sunk one foot below the surface, making the fence only five feet above the ground and only marginally higher than surrounding vegetation.

“This prevents dogs from digging under the fence and escaping into the nearby fields or onto the main road adjacent to the site.

“The fencing is now well weathered and blends into the surrounding landscape resulting in minimum visual impact.”

Officers from Scottish Borders Council’s planning department will now deliberate on the application before making a decision.