Plans are afoot for a groundbreaking veterinary hospital in Hull, thanks to the proposed sale of council land to the Pets Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA). The charity has its sights set on an area close to Brunswick Avenue and Waterloo Street in the Central ward, following the announcement of land sale authorization.
The PDSA is a beacon of hope for pet owners, offering free and low-cost veterinary care to pets in dire need. However, their current facility on Brunswick Avenue has seen better days and struggles to keep up with the increasing demand for veterinary services. This has led the PDSA to express interest in a nearby council-owned plot to expand their operations.
The site in question is the former location of a Waterloo Street shop, which was taken down years ago after falling victim to vandalism and arson. Now, it’s mostly overgrown and continues to attract anti-social behavior. Despite its current designation as Open Space in the Local Plan, the potential sale and redevelopment of the site promise substantial capital investment for Hull, offering not only enhanced care for sick animals but also additional job opportunities and a decrease in local anti-social behavior.
Councillor Paul Drake-Davis, portfolio holder for regeneration at Hull City Council, shared his enthusiasm for the project: “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 the past year alone, the PDSA has made a significant impact in Hull, supporting around 7,000 households and conducting 14,700 consultations along with 2,000 surgical procedures.
A spokesperson for the PDSA highlighted the limitations of their current premises: “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.”
This ambitious project is expected to not only improve the quality of veterinary services available in Hull but also contribute to the beautification and betterment of the community. Further details on the project can be found on the council’s planning website.
