DIRECTORS at Chipping Norton Veterinary Hospital are hoping their fresh plans for new premises will be a hit with council chiefs.

Planners at West Oxfordshire District Council voted against the original plans to build a new hospital on land at Banbury Road as they disliked the design of the building, saying it was not in keeping with the town.

But staff at the surgery were encouraged by the planning committee’s comments which favoured the proposed location and drafted new plans which they feel are a better fit with the surroundings.

The design statement says: “The new hospital has been designed to sit within the existing landscape and make use of the sloping nature of the site”

and is “sympathetic to the local vernacular of traditional cottages, barns and farmhouses”.

The site will also include 20 car parking spaces and two external buildings for animal diagnostics and treatment, along with a cattery.

Janine Whitehead, director’s assistant at the surgery, said: “The planners have been very supportive all along about the project. We worked with them to develop this plan which really is much more in keeping with the environment and is a much better looking building.

“We are in desperate need of the new premises. We really are very short of space in every way.”

The current surgery on Albion Street was built in the 1970s for two vets and now has six vets in residence.

It cares for all kinds of animals including farm animals from the Cotswold Wildlife Park.

To view the plans, visit westoxon.gov.uk/ and follow the links for planning.