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Department of the Environment, Food and Agriculture
Murray House
Mount Havelock
Douglas
Isle of Man
IM1 2SF
22nd November 2019
Dear Sir / Madam
Re: Proposed additional use of Unit C2, Eden Business Park, for the use as a Small Animal Hydrotherapy, Rehabilitation, Conditioning and Well Being Centre.
Site previously approved by PA11/01232/B.
Please find attached a planning application for additional use of Unit C2 at Eden Business Park. The following is provided in support of the application.
Therapaws is the trade name I operate under where I provide hydrotherapy and rehabilitation services to small animals (dogs being my most common patient) that have suffered injury, have an existing neurological or orthopaedic medical condition and are due for surgery or post surgery rehabilitation.
Hydrotherapy is utilising the natural properties of water at regulated temperatures to create a form of weightlessness on the body while also providing resistance throughout passive exercise and movement enabling the patient to move as freely as possible without putting strain on any affected areas whilst promoting muscle growth, general fitness, heightened circulation, reduction in inflammation and muscle/joint pain without the risk of causing any secondary complications or injury. All of which will also instil a better sense of general health and well being. Hydrotherapy actually translates as 'water healing' in Greek and the use of water for treatment can be found to date as far back as 4500 BC.
I am a fully qualified Hydrotherapist after gaining my Level 3 Diploma in Hydrotherapy, Underwater Treadmill and Advanced Underwater Treadmill Techniques for Small Animals early 2019. After passing my initial exams and opening my own hydrotherapy practice at the start of the year I went on to do a placement at a Hydrotherapy centre in southern England working with some of the best there is and taking patient referrals from the well known Veterinary Fitzpatrick Referrals (Channel 4's The Supervet).
I have also studied and completed courses on Conditioning the k9 athlete to add to these service and be able to take these animals beyond the realm of just rehabilitating an injury but condition them to a point that they have sufficient strength and core stability to carry them through life with no pain or discomfort due to any existing conditions or debilitating injuries and surgeries improving not just their quality of life but that of their owners too.
These treatments are quite literally life changing and in some cases life saving.
I am currently providing treatment from a pool in the area of Bride and have started to build up a steady client base and get many referrals from the local vets but location and the current facility are starting to become insufficient to not only match the needs of the clients but also the service that I can provide to the full extent.
A larger unit enables me to invest in a bigger pool (the current pool is relatively small) and more specialised equipment to be able to offer a full, unique and personal service for treatment that the Isle of Man is currently lacking and has been for some time.
My aim is create an all in one Hydrotherapy, Rehabilitation, Conditioning and Well Being super centre that is equipped for every need supporting the clients, patients and Veterinary Surgeries needs, using top of the range equipment that just isn't available anywhere else.
This will be the first and only facility of its kind on the Island.
Unit C2 will accommodate the following uses;
Many places have been considered whilst searching for new premises. I have been through every estate agents and looked at many commercial properties that are currently advertised in Douglas town centre and the surrounding central areas none of which suit the needs nor the location.
The town centre can be a hectic place to visit at the best of times and parking close to a particular site can also be troublesome through out the day. Most of my clients come for treatment as a result of injury or disabilities therefore the need to be able to park directly in front of the facility is a necessity and not a luxury. My clients need to be able enjoy as calm and stress free experience as possible and due to the nature and heavily trafficked and pedestrianised built up areas it would be unacceptable for clients to have to go through this.
I am looking to purchase a site rather than lease one which also narrowed the field greatly and left little options until coming across the available unit at Eden Park. Retail units simply just don't offer the space needed for the type of equipment and most other facilities were either very run down or next to plant/mechanic type units. I look to promote a clean, high end service and want my place of business to reflect the service I provide.
Eden Park is a fantastic site to house the proposed use for my facility. Eden Park is in the Ideal location providing easy and equal access to every corner of the Island. The look and style of the units and the surrounding area match the clean, high-quality and modern image that my services and equipment look to provide.
The ample parking area is away from the road and directly in front of the facility allowing for stress free and little travel from vehicle to front door.
Unit C2 of Eden Park comes with 5 allocated parking space and 8 shared spaces which more than sufficient for my own and my clients parking needs. As clients are treated individually and through a booking system it is very unlikely that there would be any more than 2 clients in the facility at any one time. Combine that with with my own parking needs and that of a future staff member the parking availability is more than appropriate.
As previously mentioned clients are treated individually and through a booking system on an hourly basis so will add only very minimal traffic to the area every hour.
For example, over an 8 hour period I would expect no more than an extra 16 vehicles passing through the area which would be the equivalent of 2 vehicles per hour.
With Eden Park Unit C2 being the blank canvas that it is I look to go green. For the daily running of the facility I will be looking to go as energy efficient as possible using Air Source heat pumps for the heating of the unit and water.
As most of the equipment will be run electrically I will also be considering the installation of Solar resources to provide power with the aim of making the facility as eco and energy saving as possible not just saving costs but also helping our environment.
The pool itself will be treated no different than than any public or household swimming pool, spa or jacuzzi using chlorine or bromine along with PH and Alkalinity adjusters to keep the water treated and clean. The pool will also have a specialised filtration system specific to its intended use as a hydrotherapy pool. Once the pool is full and treatment levels are achieved, this will be maintained and tested everyday. The pool should only ever need to be topped up due to natural evaporation etc and will not need to be emptied unless due to malfunction or a rare necessary maintenance need therefore keeping water wastage to a minimum.
The underwater treadmill will take a direct feed from the pool when in use so will not need any added water storage or filtration system. Once the session has been completed the water from the treadmill will then be fed directly back into the pool again keeping water use and waste to a minimum.
I do not see any concern or issue of increased noise levels to any attached units as it is of a very rare occasion I have a noisy client whilst perform treatment sessions.
Eden Park ticks every box from clean, tidy, parking, space, modern appearance, great location and surroundings.
The whole area makes us feel good from the moment we enter a site like this. That is how I want my clients to feel when pulling into the area and up to my facility, portraying confidence and innovation. Providing the sense that they are in the right place for the help they need before even entering the building.
There is no plan B (I have searched long and hard) and waiting 18-24 months for other suitable accommodation to become available or built, is not something I have the luxury of being able to do. I am in a situation now where I am able, with your approval, to make all this happen but opportunities can pass just as quickly as they arrive and fear a lot of small animals in the future will suffer more from the lack of help and support a facility of this type can provide, should it not come to pass, yet the benefits can be life saving.
The unit will be a centre of support for the Islands Veterinarians and animal physiotherapists in a prime central location to each one of them.
The Island and our small animals on it are in need of a facility like this. More and more of these facilities are opening in the UK and the benefits are obvious to see.
Unit C2 is currently empty and since starting my enquiries I have been given great support, confidence and even excitement not only from the developers but also my existing clients at the prospects of unit C2 housing such a facility.
Eden Park is again the Ideal location for a facility like this and the first of its kind and equipment that will used within it.
I firmly believe that my occupation of Eden Park Unit C2 will only add to the positivity, diversity and innovation that the site and surrounding businesses already show.
It is my hope that you too can see my vision, what it can bring and the benefit it will gain from being part of the Eden Park site.
I thank you very much for your time and consideration. Should you require further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Yours Faithfully,
[Signature]
LEE FRANCE TheraPaws Hydrotherapy Rehabilitation and Conditioning.
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