PRIMATES will not be allowed to be kept at an east Dorset home after an inspector upheld a decision to refuse planning permission.

Dawn Groom had applied for approval to build six log cabins at her home in Horton after being forced to relocate from Maidenhead after her old house was bought through a compulsory purchase order for works to the M4 motorway.

However, East Dorset District Council refused to grant permission in October and the decision has now been supported following an appeal.

Concerns had been raised by Monkey World director Dr Alison Cronin about the conditions the primates, including capuchins and squirrel monkeys, would be living in.

She said her opposition was “not purely” on concerns about keeping the animals privately but centre on concerns about the design of the compounds.

“Neither the sheds nor the enclosures show any ‘safety porches’,” she said.

“Safety porches make it less likely for monkeys to escape when a person is entering their enclosures to clean or put food out which should be happening regularly.”

Dr Cronin also called on the council to ensure that, if the application was approved, conditions for the animals were checked.

Planning officer Diana Mezzogori-Curran acknowledged the concerns but said they were not issues the council could consider when evaluating the application.

“This kind of application is part of a planning process where built form and its impact on surroundings are considered rather than the morality of pet-keeping and animal welfare,” she said.

She did, however, refuse to approve the proposal raising concerns about the impact of building in the green belt and said there was no demonstration of the “very special circumstances” required to develop the land.

The decision of the council was appealed but planning inspector Mr Edwards backed its position.

He said: “The appeal proposal would constitute inappropriate development and the framework establishes that substantial weight should be given to any harm to the green belt.

“In addition, there would be a moderate loss of openness in the green belt.”

The appeal decision means a new application will have to be submitted if the enclosures are to be built.