Plans revealed for new St Francis' Dogs Home building in Newquay
The site in Newquay is undergoing a huge transformation
A dogs home in Newquay is set to undergo major renovation work in a bid to provide outstanding care to its four-legged residents.
St Francis' Dogs Home have been working with a veterinary architect whose designs include a new rehoming kennel block with communal spaces, incorporating a reception and areas for training and meet and greet.
The dogs' welfare has been a top factor when drawing up the plans as bosses at the animal home says the 'safety of the dogs in our care will always be our top priority'.
In order to keep dogs safe, infection control, food prep and feeding areas and separation from other dogs have all be incorporated into the plans.
"Infection control is one of the most important aspects of animal welfare accommodation. Subdivision into smaller numbers of kennels is key to maintaining good infection control, and also a calm, low noise and low disruption environment for dogs.
"Our plans have no more than 5 kennels together and food prep areas do not open directly to the kennel corridor. Additionally, isolation kennels will have full separation and dedicated feed prep areas.
"The design also includes the introduction of paths throughout the site which keep these activities separate from arrival, through to the individual buildings and to the paddocks/fields. "
Spokesperson, St Francis' Dogs Home
With ‘Net Zero 2050’ passed by parliament last year, any new build project has to address sustainability and energy use right from the very first concept drawings.
All aspects of the building, from the floor, walls, roof, windows and doors, to the heating, ventilation and lighting are taken into account in the energy efficiency calculations for Building Regulations Part L compliance.
The energy efficiency principles of this proposal start with the very basic shape and form of the buildings:
- Compact shame to minimise area of the walls and roof
- Good insulation throughout
- Orientation towards the south to maximise passive solar gain for free winter time warmth
- Solar shading to prevent summertime overheating
- High thermal mass to even out day and night temperatures, and maximise the benefit of solar gain in winter and night time cooling in summer
- Simple natural ventilation systems that work with the thermal mass principles
- Photovoltaic panels make a lot of send on this site due to the totally open aspect and lack of any obstructions that block the sun. The array on the previous Training Hall will be retained and further PVs will be added to form the canopy roofs over the kennel runs
- Ground source heat pumps are a low cost solution for supplying hot water for underfloor heating or radiators and hot water throughout the buildings.
“We have been working with Tracey Collins and St Francis Dogs Home since being appointed in November 2020 for the new works and prior to that since March 2019 in an advisory role.
"We have built up a really great relationship with Tracey over this time and found her to be highly professional and transparent in all our dealings with her.
"She is clearly devoted to the survival of St Francis Dogs Home and securing it’s future and also for the wellbeing of all the dogs that will be cared for and rehomed by the charity.
"It is obvious to us that St Francis needs a skilled and determined driving force like Tracey and her fellow Trustees to achieve everything that needs to be done to create a modern fit for purpose rehoming centre for dogs.”
Jonathan Clark, Veterinary Architect
Whilst its doors may be temporarily closed, this hasn’t stopped them throughout this period working in line with its charitable objectives for the benefit of dogs.
St Francis Dogs Home has supported and is continuing to support other dog homes in Cornwall and Devon, both financially and with food donations. It has also been working with other dog homes on the welfare of individual dogs, whenever the need arises.
K9focus, one of the Dogs Homes supported by St Francis Dogs Home, hopes the project will help more dogs in the years to come:
“On behalf of everyone at K9focus I thank you for your continued support throughout this dreadful year and the hard work that all the Trustees have undertaken in order to pull this project together. A project that is going to give so many more dogs a brighter future.”
Lynne Hall, K9focus