ANIMAL Rescue Cumbria wants to see the biggest development of its site since the land was bought under Alfred Wainwright in the 1980s. 

The animal centre is based in Grayrigg and in July submitted plans to South Lakeland District Council (SLDC). This would involve knocking down many of the current buildings and developing a new dog exercise barn, an extended kennel, improved access, and a place for schools to visit. 

Marion Yates, the general manager of the centre, said: "We are forced to make a move because we're right on the crest of a very steep slope here and there was serious subsidence after Storm Desmond. Although we're not in immediate danger of slipping down into the beck we have been advised by surveyors we need to think about moving our buildings back away from the slope. 

"We've been working for quite some time with an architect - he's drawn up some great plans that are under consideration by SLDC planning department. At the moment we're hopeful we'll get some good news either before or after Christmas so that we can go ahead with building new facilities. 

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"We've sort of patched everything up since 1984 and added bits and improved bits. It's all over the place it doesn't really meet current standards and we want the best for our animals.

"The new development will be state of the art and give the animals all the enrichment and the best environment we can to make their time with us as stress-free as possible."

Marion admitted that the centre had looked at moving the site into an entirely new location but it would have had to submit detailed planning applications for developing former farmland. When parcels of land came up at auction, the centre did not have enough time to develop proposals because of this. 

In the end, Marion and the team decided that staying put would be right anyway.

"This is where Wainwright set the place up, all we're doing is having a new build further away from the slope so it is safe," she said. "Most of these buildings will be demolished and a new exercise barn and an education centre will be built."