Northumbria Police intends to demolish the former Newcastle Dog and Cat Shelter on Claremont Road to construct a dedicated facility for police dogs. The shelter, which has been closed since 2023, has been temporarily replaced by various arrangements since the closure of the previous facility in Ponteland in 2016.
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The proposed development will consist of two buildings that include kennels, administrative offices, training facilities, and a dog exercise and training field. The application states that an existing access point to Hunters Moor will be removed, although the Freemen, responsible for the city's moors, plan to install a new, more accessible gate near the intersection of Claremont Road and Grandstand Road.
Access to the new facility will be via current vehicle routes from Claremont Road, along with a new pedestrian entry. The construction will remain within the footprint of the previous shelter, but a fence will be put up to enclose part of Hunters Moor.
Demand for trained police dogs has increased since the closure of the Ponteland facility. The application notes that the police have been heavily dependent on private kennels to accommodate dogs when officers are off duty, but these commercial facilities are frequently at capacity. The proposed building aims to enhance the services that Northumbria Police can deliver to the public. The Newcastle Dog and Cat Shelter ceased its operations at the Claremont Road site in 2023 due to financial difficulties.